Reviews of Hard Ticketed Events (Party for the Senses, Food and Wine Pairings)
Reviewed by Dogwithahat Review Date: 11/08/2013
Rating: (8) Recommended
My DD24 and I attended the Italian Regional lunch on Oct 23, 2013. It was held at Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar in Tutto Italia Restaurant. I will list the five course menu- a charred octopus with a bean spread and matchstick celery hearts paired with a Pinot Grigio, a Zucchini and mint pesto risotto paired with a Juti Lison Classico, poached snapper in white wine and herb broth paired with a Sauvignon, a cheese course a LaTur paired with a Merlot, and for dessert an almond cake with vanilla gelato paired with a Verduzzo dessert wine.
It is my understanding that the menu and wine pairings change frequently during the event which was given 3 times a week. I do not think there is a way to find out the menu before you book it. That being said although I enjoyed the venue and my tablemates, I was disappointed in the nearly all white wine pairings.
I went for the experience and it was overall a good one. The char on the octopus was overpowering to the other delicate flavors. The risotto was really good as was the dessert. I personally liked the cheese which was strongly flavored but many of my tablemates did not. Our table voted the merlot the best wine. The worst course was the snapper, the broth was very fishy.
Our presenter was great but he was very hard to hear because of the venue. They had the place packed with tables. Service was exceptional. A few less chairs in there would have made it better imho. You had to ask someone to get up and let you out to use the bathroom. That's packing us in too tightly.
Pros:
Special Event and exceptional serviceCons:
MenuReviewed by JoeTr Review Date: 11/02/2013
Rating: (9) Recommended
This event was held in the new Tutto Gusto Wine Cellar. We all agreed that it is the best venue in WDW - perhaps only a bit less than V&A. The five course lunch represented different regions of Italy. The risotto with pumpkin and shrimp was different and delicious. Unlike the French Regional lunches they were not anxious to refill the glasses. This was a surprise because we had attended the Italian Wine Pairing two days early with several of the same wines, and they were very generous. Downside of the pairing was Via Napoli. It is a very noisy place - fun with pizza, but not great when trying to hear about the food and wines. Perhaps next year they will have both events in the Wine Cellar.
Pros:
Food and ambianceCons:
A little tight with the wine servingsReviewed by JoeTr Review Date: 11/02/2013
Rating: (10) Recommended
We (six very senior citizens) were lucky to be able to attend two French Regional lunches during our one week visit. The Cotes du Rhone and Bordeaux regionals were well represented. Every course provided a new taste treat. A Celery Zephyr with Black Truffles was served with an light mousse topping. Different and delicious. The Bordeaux were from the Rothschild Domaines, and lived up to their reputation.
Pros:
Quality and Quantity of food.Cons:
NoneReviewed by jaygalterio Review Date: 10/31/2013
Rating: (2) Recommended
"3D Dessert Discovery"
Attended 10/25, Sweet Seats
Offerings on hand -
# of Individual Dessert Areas: 4
# of Individual Dessert Items: 10
Sweet Seats had 3 additional dessert items.
One additional item was delivered to each of the Sweet Seats that I was not able to taste. Luckily I was warned that it included cheese before I tried it (allergies). No real description was given of the item. My wife, who did try it, didn't seem impressed.
All the rest was questionable in it's presence (cold cuts, fruit, cheese, etc.). It's debatable if these should be called "desserts" but that is really up to personal preference.
Most of the fruit were not above the level of items that can be bought at an average supermarket. No special preparation was done to the fruit, seemed like items that were either dumped into a bowl.
Some of the items, like the popcorn, were a complete throw away in effort. They were nice, in theory, but by no means should be considered a "top billed" item. I'm sorry but popcorn is popcorn, flavoring it with different glazes really doesn't raise it's profile enough to justify the entrance price.
The same about the "charcuterie" and "cheese" items. Nothing there struck me as anything special and seemed to be haphazardly dumped into serving containers.
And, at an even more subjective personal opinion, of the desserts only three were worth a second visit: Teeny Weeny Hot Dog Cart, 1 item from the Bites of Cake, and 1 item from the Sweet Seats. All the rest were less than impressive.
All the rest of the items varied between tasteless (almost all the items from "Bites of Cake") and tooth achingly sweet (the chocolate "cone" in the Sweet Seats).
The placement of the "Sweet Seats" was also a considerable disappointment. Our table was literally up against the stage, right in front of one of the speakers. It was uncomfortable both physically and socially.
On a whole, certainly not worth the price of admission.
Pros:
—Cons:
Not worth itReviewed by Anonymous Review Date: 01/25/2019
Rating: (5) Not Recommended
This was our 4th time going to Party for the Senses in September 2018, it was the worse one, not as many food and beverage stations. It seems as if they are cutting back while increasing the price. Will not go next year.
