The EPCOT® International Flower and Garden Festival just kicked off, and we've squeezed as many eats as we could into opening weekend! The menu showcases tons new to eat this year, so we're showcasing everything we've had so far, from what we loved the least to the most (spoiler: we loved it all).
Steam Bun filled with vegetables and plant-based soy meat (Hanami)
The bun was fluffy and warm, but it stuck to the wrapper provided with it, and the sweet bun overtook the savory of the filling. This is a great plant-based dish if you're not looking for something earthier and meatier, as the portion size and the bun's puffy texture made this enjoyable.
Spicy Chicken Gumbo with andouille sausage and long grain & wild rice (Magnolia Terrace)
Is it gumbo? No. Is it spicy? Not really, but it does have a slight kick. Is it delicious? Very! This thicker dish with creole-inspired flavors misses the soupier consistency of authentic gumbo, but is a decent representation of classic Louisiana flavors.
Peanut Butter & Jelly Soft Serve Swirl
The sweetness of the jelly ice cream was the star of the show. This treat didn't pack any surprises, but was a nice, cool snack in an already humid Florida.
Bananas Foster Bread Pudding (Magnolia Terrace)
This is decadent and flavorful, but is so dense and rich that we'd recommend having it closer to the end of your day while scouting the perfect spot for fireworks rather than as an after-lunch dessert in the Florida heat and humidity.
Muffuletta Panini with ham, salami, mortadella, provolone, and Swiss with olive salad (Magnolia Terrace)
This was clever, flavorful and captured the iconic muffuletta flavor profile while doing something unique. Pressing it into a panini kept it light and easy enough to eat, and placing the olive salad on the side allows it to be more approachable to more guests.
Sope de Chilorio: Guajillo pepper-braised pork on fried corn shells with black beans, shredded cabbage, crema Mexicana, queso fresco, and chives (Garden de Fiestas)
Flavor was at the forefront of a dish stacked high with ingredients. Easiest to pick up and eat with your hands, only avoid this if you're looking for something with crunchier or varied texture. Do order this if you want a dish packed with interesting flavors and a decent portion size.
Chicken and Waffles (The Honey Bee-stro)
This crispy chicken on a honey sweet cornbread waffle with whipped honey butter and spicy honey brought a variety of sweetness and a hefty portion size to a booth that impresses each year. The waffle was loaded with corn, and we think all waffles should be from now on.
Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with black forest ham and melted cheese (Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market)
This is, hands down, the most impressive dish from this region we've ever had at a Disney festival. Decadent, warm and easy to share, we'll be going back for this gooey bundle of pretzel, ham and cheese each time we head to EPCOT for the festival's duration.
Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre (Fleur de Lys)
A croissant with goat cheese and garlic seems like an infallible concept, probably because it is. Disney festivals have a long history of cheese breads (see our previous item), and this year's French attempt is among the best yet.