Epcot Food and Wine Festival Dining Options For Picky Eaters

Tomorrow is the official start of the Epcot Food and Wine Festival.  It is such an amazing time of year...my favorite to be exact...and I am getting anxious about my trip next week to experience the event myself.  (This is the first time I haven't been down there on opening weekend...this is a bit weird.)

With that in mind, I thought I'd take a look at some of the different booths and discuss what items I, an extremely picky eater, would most want to try and why.  And given that I don't drink and really only like milk and water and coffee, I'm only looking at the food options.

So, without further adieu: 

Terra:

• Trick’n Chick’n Curry with Basmati Rice featuring Gardein™ Chick’n Breast
• Chili Colorado with House-made Chips and Cashew Cheese featuring Gardein™ Beefless Tips*
• Chocolate Cake with Coconut Mousse and Passion Fruit Sauce

While I'm not a big vegan fanatic...if I had to choose one dish, this one sounds the most interesting.  I mean cheese made from cashews...what?

Brazil (All-New Menu):

• Seared Scallop with Ragout of Tomatoes, Peppers, Hearts of Palm and Steamed Rice
• Crispy Pork Belly with Black Beans, Onions, Avocado and Cilantro

 My option here is the one I'm most excited about.  I am a SUCKER for scallops.  They are up there as my favorite seafood option ever.  If these are on the menu, I'm trying it and this is a different way than I've ever had a scallop, so, it's intriguing. 

Argentina:

• Beef Empanada
• Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée

 Having already tried the beef empanada, which I actually found to be quite dry, the beef skewer is what I'd go with.  Though, as a person who's nervous to try stuff, the chimichurri sauce scares me...it's green. 

Australia:

• Garlic Shrimp with Roasted Tomatoes, Lemon Myrtle and Rapini
• Grilled Lamb Chop with Mint Pesto and Potato Crunchies
• Pavlova (Crispy Meringue Shell with Fresh Driscoll’s® Berries and Vanilla Custard)

This one is tough....but I think my winning option is going with the Garlic Shrimp.  How can you go wrong with garlic?  Again, I'm a sucker for seafood and while the Pavlova sounds intriguing, I'm sure there will be a lot of other desserts I'd choose later. 

Mexico:

• Shrimp Taco with Purple Cabbage
• Taco de Ribeye with Salsa de Chipotle
• Rice Pudding

I'm going with the ribeye taco.  It sounds simply lovely.  

Singapore:

• Lemongrass Chicken Curry with Coconut and Jasmine Rice
• Seared Mahi Mahi with Jasmine Rice and “Singa” Sauce

The options from the Aisian countries are always hardest for me because, well truthfully, it's not my favorite type of food.  I think I would like to try the Mahi Mahi.  It has the most potential for me.

China:

• Mongolian Beef in a Steamed Bun
• Black Pepper Shrimp with Sichuan Noodles
• Chicken Potstickers
• Silky Spun Ice with Toppings (three flavors: Coconut, Strawberry, Chocolate)

 Full well thinking I was going to choose the silky spun ice...which sounds yummy...I ended up choosing the potstickers.  I had some darn good potstickers (something I was nervous, but just decided to try) on the cruise and these sound just as appealing. 

South Korea:

• Kimchi Dog with Spicy Mustard Sauce
• Lettuce Wrap with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw

I told you that the Asian countries were hard...and neither of these sound all that appealing.  I'm going with the lettuce wrap. They can keep the slaw.   

Africa:

• Berbere Style Beef with Onions, Jalapeños, Tomato, Okra and Pap
• Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket

This used to be one of my favorite booths.  They served up a beef tenderloin with sweet potatoes each year.  This is the first year they have changed that formula.  I've heard great things about the spinach and cheese pocket, so I would be excited to try that.  

Cheese:

• Almond Crusted Blue Cheese Soufflé with Fig Jam
• Artisan Cheese Selection: Flagship Reserve Cheddar, La Bonne Vie Triple Crème Brie, Wijngaard
• Goats Gouda

Mmm...the country of cheese....I am a sucker for gouda...give me the gouda!

Germany:

• Schinken Nudel (Pasta Gratin with Ham & Cheese)
• Roast Bratwurst in a Pretzel Roll
• Apple Strudel with Werther’s Original Karamel and Vanilla Sauce

I really like the apple strudel, but to try something new, I'm going with the Skhinken Nudel.  It sounds like it would be interesting and I believe it's a new menu option. 

Poland:

• Kielbasa and Potato Pierogie with Caramelized Onions and Sour Cream
• Zapiekanki (Toasted Mushroom, Caramelized Onion and Cheese Bread with House-made Ketchup)

Wow...Poland throws down with two things that make me nervous.  Being picky, the kielbasa sounds the least scary. 

Italy:

• Ravioli de formaggio all’emiliana
• Salsiccia e ‘Papacelli” Napoletani
• Cannoli al Cioccolato

 I have always wanted to try the ravioli here...it's been on my list, but I've never gotten around to it.  So it makes the list again.

Hops & Barley:

• Lobster Roll with Lemon Herb Mayonnaise
• New England Clam Chowder with a side of Tabasco®
• Craisin® Bread Pudding with Grand Marnier Anglaise
• Griddled Lobster Tail with Garlic Herb Butter

Throwing down with the gridded lobster....yes please!

Florida Local:

• Florida Grass Fed Beef Slider with Monterey Jack and Sweet & Hot Pickles
• Florida Shrimp Ceviche with Fire Roasted Vegetables and Micro Cilantro

The beef slider is new this year, and while yes, I get that it's just a cheeseburger...it sounds darn delicious.  This one takes the cake.  
Japan:

• California Roll
• Spicy Hand Roll
• Teriyaki Chicken Hand Roll
• Youki Tofu topped with Miso Sauce, Edamame and Served with Grilled Vegetables

Seriously...I hate sushi....this is THE HARDEST booth for me to choose something from.  So, I'm gonna go with the teriyaki chicken hand roll...there's no seaweed wrap over that, is there?  
Morocco:

• Kefta Pocket
• Harissa Chicken Roll
• Baklava

I am a sucker for baklava...it's one of my favorite things and I don't get it enough.  Sold.

New Zealand:

• Gratinated Green Lip Mussels with Garlic and Herbs
• Lamb Meatball with Spicy Tomato Chutney
• Venison Sausage with Pickled Mushrooms, Baby Arugula and Black Currant Reduction

I would really be intrigued to try the lamb meatball.  It sounds just fancy enough to be a bit of a stretch for me and just normal enough to be something that I could be ok with.

Belgium:

• Potato and Leek Waffle with Braised Beef
• Belgian Waffle with Warm Chocolate Ganache and Whipped Cream
• Belgian Waffle with Berry Compote featuring Driscoll’s® Berries and Whipped Cream

I really want to try the Waffle with chocolate...simple yet delicious.
France:

• Escargots Persillade en Brioche (Garlic and Parsley Snails in Brioche)
• Boeuf Bourguignon (Braised Short Ribs in Cabernet with Mashed Potatoes)
• Crème Brûlée au Chocolat au Lait (Chocolate Milk Crème Brûlée topped with Caramelized Sugar)

I always get the creme brulee...but this time, I want to try something different, so I'm trying the braised short ribs...they sound quite yummy

Ireland:

• Lobster and Seafood Fisherman’s Pie
• Kerrygold Cheese Selection: Reserve Cheddar, Dubliner with Irish Stout, Skellig
• Warm Chocolate Pudding with Bailey’s® Custard

I always get the Fisheman's Pie...it's quite delicious....this year, they've added the warm chocolate pudding...it's got chocolate...I think it's gonna be in my belly.

 Canada:

• Canadian Cheddar Cheese Soup
• Seared Rainbow Trout with Bacon, Frisee and Maple Minus 8 Vinaigrette
• “Le Cellier” Wild Mushroom Beef Filet Mignon with Truffle Butter Sauce

The Beef Filet is so so good.  It's covered in truffle butter sauce!  Plus, I can pick off the mushrooms.  

Greece:

• Taste of Greece: Grilled & Marinated Calamari, Hitipiti, Eggplant Dip, Olives and Pita Bread
• Griddled Greek Cheese with Pistachios and Honey
• Chicken Gyro with Tzatziki Sauce
• Spanakopita
• Dannon Oikos® Light & Fit Blueberry Greek Yogurt

I've heard that the gridded Greek cheese is super good.  I think I want to try that this year.  

Refreshment Port:

• Dole® Pineapple Fritters
• Fried Shrimp with Dole® Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Fried Chicken Chunks with Dole® Pineapple Sweet and Sour Sauce
• Orange Dole® Whip

Hello Fried Shrimp!  I think you will do nicely.  Though the pineapple fritters are intriguing too.  

Desserts & Champagne:

• Chocolate Orange Cupcake
• Hazelnut Chocolate Cheesecake
• Morello Cherry Pistachio Mousse
• Dessert Trio
• Guylian Belgian Chocolate Seashell Truffles
• Frozen S’mores

I don't even know what it is...but I really want to try the frozen smores.  I'm a sucker for smores.   (Seriously...half of my dessert pins I've pinned on Pinterest are of smores desserts.)

Hawai’i:

• Kahlua Pork Slider with Sweet and Sour Dole® Pineapple Chutney and Spicy Mayonnaise
• Tuna Poke with Seaweed Salad and Lotus Root Chips

I mean, really, it's not even worth mentioning the other option.  It's clear the pork slider is the winner.  Minus the mayo, cause...ew.

Scotland (New):

• Seared Scottish Salmon with Cauliflower Puree, Watercress and Malt Vinaigrette
• Vegetarian Haggis with Neeps and Tatties-Griddled Vegetable Cake with Rutabaga and Mashed Potatoes
• Scottish Banoffee Tart with Bananas, Scottish Whisky Toffee, Walkers Shortbread Crumbles and Sweet Cream

The Banoffee tart sounds quite delicious...you can't go wrong with toffee and bananas.  

Ok...so, while it may sounds like I hate all food in my listing of what this picky eater would try, really there a lot of things that once I get there and see in person, are actually more delicious than they sound.  (To me, visual means a ton in eating.)  I can't wait to actually get in the parks and try some of the dishes that are favorites, as well as some new winners.

If you are headed down to the Epcot Food and Wine Festival, I strongly urge you to pick up the DFB Guide to the 2013 Epcot International Food and Wine Festival.  Keep in mind, that you are supporting the blog by clicking the link

What items would you choose if you were a picky eater but had to pick one?  Let me know in the comments section or on the Facebook page.  

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