Okay, so I am taking a quick detour from my “Best of the Best” series to share a portion of a recent trip I took with my mother to Walt Disney World . Bear with me ~ this one is going to be “delicious. ” As an aspiring Disney Foodie, I have had two major bucket list goals (as my mother likes to refers to them): to attend the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival AND to attend the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival. I was finally able to cross one of these off my list as we recently traveled to Walt Disney World to explore Epcot’s International Flower & Garden Festival.
Being a teenager with an insatiable appetite, my focus was not going to be on the topiaries. Sorry, Mom! They were nice and all, but my main interest was… (drum roll please)….the food. (I know, you’re shocked, right?). As soon as I stepped foot into the Epcot World Showcase, I was in a constant state of euphoria. Food was literally everywhere! Booths with unique flavors from all around the globe stretched as far as the eye could see. I was like a kid in a candy store, desperate to try everything, but knowing I could only have a little taste of what there was to offer. To think, I hear the Food & Wine Festival has even MORE food!
Epcot has various kiosks set up around the World Showcase, known as Outdoor Kitchens. They are scattered throughout with one or two of these kitchens in each of the countries. My mom and I had agreed before the trip that we would share, so that we can experience more and see how our comments compared. During our adventure, one of the first Outdoor Kitchens we approached was the Taste of Marrakesh in Morocco. From this kiosk, we had a delectable Harissa Chicken Kebab served with a sweet couscous salad. It was fantastic! The chicken kebab was warm with a little kick, abundant with flavors and spices. Meanwhile, the couscous salad was cold and sweet, complementing the main course well. The two balanced each other perfectly and my mom and I devoured the delicious plate of food, quite satisfied.
We then continued on through the World Showcase, looking around for more kiosks. Another stop along our route was Hanami in Japan. There, we decided to venture into what I would consider the unknown and try the Beef Teriyaki Udon, a delicious dish of thin-sliced beef and onions over noodles, tossed in soy and ginger. Quite honestly, it was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my entire life. The beef was so tender and delicious and the noodles were cooked to perfection. Add that to the soy and ginger, along with a few veggies, and we had a delicious treat for anyone who likes to use chopsticks!
Walking away from Japan, Mom and I were beginning to feel a bit full, (well, she was, at least), but we decided that we had room for at least one more snack. This time, we went with something a little more familiar in Italy. We tried the Pollo alla Parmigiana, aka chicken parmesan. I know, it was a little generic, but I like chicken and parmesan…so the two combined = yum. This dish was delicious , generic or not. The chicken was well cooked, but tender, and the cheese was melted beautifully, almost crisped actually. It was definitely a great choice.
After tasting our way around World Showcase, Mom and I followed a fairly new family tradition for our dessert option and bought caramel popcorn at Karamell-Küche, a store that sells all kinds of sweets and is located in the Germany Pavilion. The caramel popcorn they make there is amazingly tasty. My family gets a large bag every time to share. It has become a pretty strong tradition and one that we will enjoy for years to come. I can’t say I would have ended our time at Epcot any differently.
So, all in all, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival was a tremendous experience for me. I ate a lot of food and had a amazing time exploring new tastes with my mom. I am really looking forward to attending the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival during our family trip in November. If it has even more food than the Flower & Garden Festival, I am confident my taste buds will not be disappointed.
Until the next step,
Aaryn
What a great time you had. I loved that you and your mom did this together. My son and I do this every year as well adn it’s the best memory. Oh and heads up yes you have to do the Food and Wine festival. We do that one every year as well adn OMG so good.
I love reading your perspective. Times have really changed. When I was your age, cheeseburgers at McDonald’s were a rare treat. I love that your mom and I can open up new worlds for our children. Keep exploring new tastes (and telling us about them).