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Epcot Outdoor Kitchens

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival 2016 Sneak Peek

1 March 2016 by Suzannah Otis 2 Comments

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Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Ranger Mickey at the Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016

As much as I enjoy the unique foods offered at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival each year, it’s no secret that I actually prefer the Flower & Garden Festival by leaves and mounds (see what I did there? horticultural puns!). In all seriousness, it really is my favorite Festival, especially with the addition of the outdoor kitchens. Seeing new topiary creations each year, in addition to the old favorites always makes for great visits to Epcot, and fun photo ops, ensuring you explore and visit even some forgotten areas. Additionally, with the spring season at hand, the food options at the outdoor kitchens (now in their 4th year at the Festival), are lighter, more focused on vegetables and organic and locally sourced ingredients. The menus are fresh (there’s a reason they use #FreshEpcot as the hashtag for the Festival) and not too heavy, just perfect for strolling the park in the springtime.

This year, the Flower & Garden Festival runs from March 2 – May 30, expanding from 75 days last year, to a full 90 this year. Festival Horticultural Manager Eric Darden explained that they are prepared and excited for the challenge of a 90-day festival. With the previous length, they had 2 separate plantings to keep the gardens looking bright and full. This year, they may have to do 3 sets of plantings for some of the displays, ensuring no matter when you visit, the flowers will look as wonderful as day 1. Also new this year, is a new topiary character, Ranger Mickey, who, along with Chip n’ Dale, help celebrate the National Park Service’s 100th Anniversary. I loved these new topiaries and of course, awareness of our amazing National Parks is always a good thing.

We were treated to a preview of some of the menu options as well as some of the areas which were still under construction. Set to open tomorrow, March 2nd, everything will be revealed and ready to go at park opening. Until then, enjoy some photos and further information on 23rd annual Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival!

(Hover over photos to read captions)

Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Beef Teriyaki Udon tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Shrimp and Stone-ground Grits and Andouille Sausage, Sweet Corn, Tomatoes, and Cilantro
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Seared Pork Tenderloin with Mushroom Ragout, Spring Vegetables, and Marbled Potatoes
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Charles de Ferre and Monin Prosecco
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Watermelon and Feta Salad
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Land-harvested Field Greens with Apples, Dried Blueberries, Stilton Cheese, and Apple Cider Vinaigrette
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Burnt Ends Beef Brisket Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Burnt Ends Beef Brisket Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Cremoso al Pistachio – Pistachio Cream, Strawberries and Mascarpone Cream
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Mezze Lune Primavera! Egg Pasta is stuffed with Ricotta and Spinach and served in a Creamy Sauce with Spring Vegetables and Pecorino Cheese
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Watermelon Cucumber Slush with Hendrick’s Gin
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Currywurst getting sprinkled with curry spices
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider and Sonoma “The Pitchfork” Organic Pear Hard Cider
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Currywurst with Paprika Chips
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
French Macaron with Chocolate Fudge and Raspberry Jam
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Chocolate art from France
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, along with Country Pate and House-made Pickles
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Orlando-made Ricotta Cheese, Cahaba Farms Micro Onions, Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Balsamic, along with Country Pate and House-made Pickles
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Honey Baklava from Morocco
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Jerk-spice Chicken with Mango Salsa, Chayote, and Green Papaya Slaw with Lime-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
Key Lime Wine, Tropical Sangria, and Pineapple Wine from Florida Orange Groves Winery
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016

 

Of the samples we tried, I was most in love with the Shrimp and Grits and the Burnt Ends – so, so good and the flavors are ridiculous. I also really liked the Currywurst, which I guess used to be at Sommerfest, but I never tried it there. The Jerk Chicken was also a winner. I thought I had tried gin in my past and not been a fan, but mixed with the Cucumber Watermelon Slush, I really loved it. I would totally get this when I go back to the Festival. Of course the Festival Passport is back, and you can get stamps at every kiosk around the World Showcase. You can view all the menus, topiary checklist, Garden Rocks performers, and all the Festival info online before you go.

Here are some of the topiary and garden photos from our sneak peek. We’ll have more throughout the run of the Festival on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and in future posts here.

2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Sunburst garden behind Spaceship Earth
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Floating flowers and flower quilt
Epcot Flower & Garden Festival 2016
I just love Chip ‘n’ Dale with their sandwich
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Ranger Mickey
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Minnie and Pluto topiary
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Bambi, Thumper, and Flower
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Baby pineapples by the Pineapple Promenade
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Eeyore’s tail is the cutest
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
T-I-double G-ER
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Rabbit
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
New this year: the interactive Harmony Gardens musical playground, which features the Fab Five topiaries on a smaller scale.
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Kids will be able to play with drums, xylophones, chimes, and jungle gyms
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
We saw it under construction but it will be open 3/2
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
We were able to pot a plant, similar to the gardening seminars held in the Festival Center during the Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Some previews of the Festival merchandise
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
Festival tumbler
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
2016 Epcot Flower & Garden Festival
How cute is this Donald figurine with Chip n’ Dale?

 

Will you be visiting during the Epcot Flower and Garden Festival? What are you most looking forward to seeing and trying? We can’t wait to get back for more!

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Filed Under: Disney Parks, Resorts, & Entertainment, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Epcot, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot flower quilt, Epcot merchandise, Epcot Outdoor Kitchens, Epcot topiaries, Flower & Garden Festival 2016, FreshEpcot, Ranger Mickey

Why Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival is My Favorite Food & Wine Festival

3 March 2015 by Suzannah Otis 1 Comment

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Epcot 2015 Flower and Garden Festival The Epcot Flower and Garden Festival is entering its 22nd season at the Walt Disney World Resort. I’ve been attending from the start, and it’s always held a lovely place in my heart as a fun way for Epcot to show its colors in a unique way. When the rest of the world is craving spring in all its glory, even those of us in Florida are ready for some color, butterflies, and all that spring promises with each new year. Growing up, I used to love going to the New England Flower Show each year (now called the Boston Flower & Garden Show). We’d drive into downtown Boston from our suburb of Sharon, Mass, usually with snow still on the ground. Seeing the displays, the exotic flowers, plants and trees that you didn’t normally get to see in New England, along with the accompanying scents, was a highlight for me as a child.

Epcot’s Flower & Garden Festival, while not very similar to what I grew up with, showcased what Walt Disney World was known for, topiaries, beautiful flowers and animated characters brought to life. Originally, the Festival had a special Mother’s Day Brunch, and on that day you would receive a carnation at the turnstiles (still a tradition as of last year, although the turnstiles are no more) as well as a free “Mother’s Day Photo” taken in a different location each year. That was an annual tradition for my mom and I, and we usually continue it, although the free photo is no more. We still dine in Epcot each Mother’s Day and enjoy the various flower displays and gardening showcases Epcot puts together, now in partnership with HGTV and many other sponsors.

The extensive topiary displays have grown, as well as adding many DIY examples of home gardening ideas and inspiration to take back home, whether that is local, or in a completely different climate zone. The Festival Center, housed in the former Wonders of Life pavilion, offers gardening demonstrations and classes for those wanting to learn how the experts make it happen.

The Flower & Garden Festival has changed quite a bit over the years, with one of the biggest changes coming two years ago, with the addition of Epcot Kitchens around the World Showcase promenade. These kitchens highlight different fresh grown menu items, drinks and desserts, some of which have become instant hits. I’ve really come to love these options even more than the Food & Wine Festival that rolls around in the Fall. There are a lot less “drinking around the world” groups during the Flower & Garden Festival, and the focus on the foods is really specific to locally grown flavors and fresh, unique items. And while you can still get something like bbq brisket, you can also enjoy items that almost leave you refreshed and not weighed down by sauces and ingredients we have come to associate with the Food & Wine Festival. Most things at the Flower & Garden Festival (aptly given the hashtag #FreshEpcot this season), are made with spring vegetables, fruits and lighter items to match the season. It’s a kind of “Food & Wine Light” Festival, which, when paired with the other displays and demonstrations, makes it a perfect way to ring in spring at Epcot.

This year, I was again treated to a preview of the Flower & Garden Festival with some other local media. We met with Festival horticulture manager Eric Darden and Carla Shuman, a Disney World landscape architect. Some gardens seemed to be a little less far along than last year’s tour, but then we have been dealing with several cold snaps and yes, even freezes here in the central Florida area. I know, it’s nothing compared to what I left back home in Boston, but then again, I left all of that behind for a reason! While some of the old favorites are back again at the Festival, there are some new topiaries as well as new plants being used this year which I’m very excited to see in full bloom.

One of the newest additions this year is the use of succulents to many of the displays. Heather told us that in the past, they’d been afraid to use succulents, because they don’t do well in Florida summers, but since the Festival won’t be on display in the summer, they decided they could use them. I’m a little obsessed with succulents, I think they are so unique-looking and can really make a fun landscape of textures and colors, so I was thrilled to see these little babies out on display. Carla said that some of the displays they already had out were affected by the freezes, but that they had already been replaced and everything looked great. I can’t wait to check out the entirety of Epcot and look for the various succulents on display. They are used quite a bit in the Cars area, with a newly themed section called Cactus Road Rally, which really fits into the theme of the original Cars film.

Speaking of films, you may have heard of Disney’s little indie release called Frozen, which is of course featured prominently in topiary form at the entrance to World Showcase from Future World. I’m wondering if a little Olaf won’t appear before the end of the Festival. I do hope they end up lighting the topiaries once the Festival officially opens on March 4. I recently saw the new Frozen short in front of Disney’s Cinderella, out March 13, and it actually is pretty cute. The new dress colors of the sisters in Frozen Fever make me happy (for now…).

Part of the Cars area garden – the Cactus Road Rally features cactus and succulents
More succulents
Love the color and plant choices here
The flower quilt has giant flower images with Mickey heads
The Butterfly Garden features all new wider walkways this year
Farmer Minnie and Mickey stand at attention
Everyone’s favorite sisters…right?
The flower beds match Elsa’s wintery aesthetic while Anna has bright flowers
The Urban Farm area features unique things like these black tomatoes
Urban Farm pineapples, which were a popular plant around the Festival this year
Aquaculture at Urban Farm – fish waste becomes plant fertilizer
Mike & Sulley return in the Monsters U play area
Monster-looking plants in the playground
Hook is looking dapper this year
Be sure to look up for Pan
Tick Tock Croc is always fun
Winnie the Pooh in the UK
English Tea Garden
Belle and her Beast in France
La Belle France
Beef Brisket Burnt Ends from the Smokehouse
Kale Salad from Urban Farm Eats
Cachapas corn cake from Botanas Botánico
Quinoa patty naanwich from Urban Farm
Some of our preview samples
Blueberry Lemon Curd Tart from Florida Fresh
Coconut Tres Leches
La Tizana from Botanas Botánico
Strawberry filled Marshmallow Macaron from France
Inside the Macaron

 
Also new this year is an area called Botanas Botánico Outdoor Kitchen, located between the France and Morocco pavilions, which will showcase treats like Cachapas with Farmer’s Cheese, a sweet yellow corn pancake, and Seafood Ceviche with shrimp, scallops and grouper with mango and avocado. Also, a new drink called La Tizana, a non-alcoholic punch finished with fresh fruit that can become an adult beverage with a splash of Santa Teresa RHUM Orange Liqueur. We were able to sample the Cachapas and the La Tizana, and I think they will both be great hits. The Cachapas were mild and comforting; a snack you could enjoy any time, and not feel as bad, because, hey, corn. To counteract all of that…healthy stuff…be sure to try the Coconut Tres Leches dessert. Holy wow that was ridiculous. I had to stop myself at two (okay, four) bites because I could feel my pants getting tighter with each one. SO. GOOD.

Other items we were able to try were the new Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapenos, from the Smokehouse. This had a great flavor, but in my opinion not as good as the pepper bacon hash from last year’s Food & Wine Festival. Also new from the Smokehouse is the Smoked Debreziner Sausage with House Made Kraut and Mustard. I’m not a huge sausage and kraut fan, so this was nothing to write home about to me. We also sampled the returning Shrimp and Grits from Florida Fresh, which was heavenly. For some reason, in my recent “better eating” lifestyle, I’ve been craving Shrimp and Grits like nobody’s business. I should probably avoid this booth for fear of ordering breakfast lunch and dinner there.

At the Urban Farm Eats kitchen, new this year is the “Naanwich” with Quinoa Patty, Arugula Pesto and Roasted Tomatoes. I loved this. Any time I can eat vegetarian and know it’s going to taste amazing is a must-do for me, and this did not disappoint. Honestly, I would order this over the Burnt Ends Hash, but maybe that’s healthy me talking. I did feel guilty eating naan, but good bread will always be my weakness! We also tried the new Kale Salad, with Dried Cherries, Almonds, and Goat Cheese with White Balsamic Vinaigrette which was nice and refreshing, depending on the price, I would totally order this again for a healthier option.

Also sampled was the Macaron Guimauve à la Fraise, a Strawberry Marshmallow Macaron from France. It’s almost too pretty to eat. Almost. Finally, the Florida Blueberry and Lemon Curd Tart. This was so refreshing. The blueberries were gigantic and so juicy.

I can’t wait to head back and try the rest of the new and returning items and stroll around the World Showcase lagoon with some delicious eats. I’ll be updating as I try more foods and drinks during the festival. I’m also excited to view the completed garden and topiary displays, including the Healing & Health Garden near The Land pavilion, featuring ancient medicinal plants including garlic, aloe, chamomile, fennel, mint and others. Plants used to develop modern prescriptions will be papaya, periwinkle, turmeric, yew, thyme and valerian. And the new Shakespeare Garden at the United Kingdom pavilion will feature roses to represent Romeo and Juliet. Also in the garden: rosemary from Hamlet, lavender from The Winter’s Tale, plus representations featuring poppy, lily, honeysuckle and willow. A literary fan’s dream garden.

I’m sure I’ll have more coverage as the Festival runs from March 4 – May 17, 2015. Until then, follow along on twitter, instagram and facebook for more photos and updates.

Thank you to Disney for inviting me to the hard hat preview tour I attended, and the food and drink samples provided. Opinions and thoughts are my own.

 

 

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Filed Under: Disney Dining, Disney Special Events, Top Stories, Walt Disney World Tagged With: Epcot, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival, Epcot Flower and Garden Festival 2015, Epcot Outdoor Kitchens, Epcot Seasonal Events, Fresh Epcot, FreshEpcot

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