Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month at Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival

The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival begins in less than a week — and most of us food and wine and Disney fans need no excuse to go! But the Disney Parks Blog recently suggested an angle that might be a fun way to experience the festival if you have more than one day to spend sampling the many foods and beverages.

National Hispanic Heritage Month officially is celebrated September 15 – October 15, and the festival at Walt Disney World has many opportunities to immerse guests in several Spanish and Latin cultures. Why not dedicate a day to these delicious dishes and customs?

In my preview story, I told you all about the offerings from Puerto Rico, which is the festival’s highlighted marketplace. At the Puerto Rico experience, there will be four foods to sample: Carne Guisada con Arroz Blanco (Slow Braised Beef with Puerto Rican Grown Rice); Sweet Corn Sorullitos (sweet polenta fries) and Bolitas de Queso (cheese fritters) with Mayo Ketchup; Ensalada de Carrucho (Caribbean conch salad with onion, tomato and cilantro); and FlanCocho (vanilla caramel custard with chocolate coffee cake).

Guests can taste these specialties and sip Medella Light Beer, Gasolina Sangriiia rum punch, a frozen San Juan Breeze with Don Q Limón Floater (also available as non-alcoholic lemonade) or Chilled Club Caribe Mango Rum, neat, at the festival’s first two-story marketplace. The colorful backdrop of Old San Juan will be recreated to allow guests to explore the history and culture of The Enchanted Island.

They also can opt for an even more immersive experience with the “Experience Puerto Rico – The All Star Island” gala, a premium event in the park’s World ShowPlace pavilion at 7:30 p.m. September 20. The two-and-a-half-hour dinner will feature authentic cuisine and entertainment. Plus, there will be a selection of beverages, including handcrafted cocktails made from Puerto Rico’s world-renowned rum distilleries. It costs $99 plus tax per person, gratuity included. For tickets, call 407-WDW-FEST (939-3378).

The newest marketplace at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, Patagonia, will showcase the tastes of Argentina and Chile. It will offer sustainable Roasted Verlasso Salmon with Quinoa Salad and Arugula Chimichurri and Grilled Beef Skewer with Cimichurri Sauce and Boniato Purée; and a Beef Empanada. The Chilean Cono Sur Bicicleta Viognier and Argentinean Terrazas Reserva Malbec are suggested wine pairings; other beverages at the marketplace will be Pascual Toso Sparkling Brut and Cono Sur Bicicleta Pinot Noir Rosé.

And, of course, the popular Mexico marketplace returns with three guest favorites: Shrimp Taco with Fried Shrimp, Pickled Habanero Pepper and Onions on Flour Tortilla; Rib Eye Taco with Marinated Ribeye, Roasted Chipotle Salsa and Grilled Scallions on a Corn Tortilla; and Sweet Corn Cheese Cake. Visitors can try a Dos Equis beer, Sangria, a Mango-Strawberry Margarita or a Tequila Flight. Be sure to check out the scheduled performances of the internationally acclaimed Mariachi Cobre band.

In addition to sampling the offerings at the marketplaces, guests can take advantage of Hispanic and Latin culinary stars hosting dining events and demonstrations. The lineup of notable chefs includes Puerto Rico’s Maira Isabel, who will create a variety of recipes with Puerto Rican ingredients at scheduled culinary demonstrations and during the September 20 gala. Other Latin American chefs participating include Paula DaSilva of 3030 Ocean in Miami Beach; Lupe Sanchez of La Hacienda de San Angel and San Angel Inn at Epcot, and several other chefs from a variety of Walt Disney World Resort restaurants.

Some Festival Center activities are included with Epcot admission. Premium wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission. Guests can call 407-939-3378 to make reservations.

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