Every spring, Epcot at Walt Disney World in Orlando, plays host to the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival, where the World Showcase area of the park is decked out in a bevy of blooms, tons of topiaries, and of course fabulous food and drink. After all, what’s a festival at Epcot without food and wine?
This year’s Flower & Garden Festival runs daily February 28 – May 28, 2018, and admission is included with your regular park admission or Annual Pass. Food and beverages are sold on an a la carte basis and concerts are free!
Before I get into some of the great food you can expect to see during this year’s festival, let me run down the 2018 Garden Rocks concert lineup:
March 2 – 5: Night Ranger
March 9 – 12: STARSHIP Starring Mickey Thomas
March 16 – 19: Simple Plan
March 23 – 26: Little River Band
March 30 – April 7: The Orchestra, starring former members of ELO
April 6 – 7: Foghat
April 8 – 9: Survivor
April 13 – 14: Smashmouth
April 15 – 16: Rick Springfield
April 20 – 21: Jo Dee Messina
April 22 – 23: Lonestar
April 27 – 30: Blood, Sweat and Tears, featuring Bo Bice
May 4 – 7: Herman’s Hermits starring Peter Noone
May 11 – 12: The Village People, featuring Victor Willis
May 13 – 14: Don Felder, formerly of The Eagles
May 18 – 21: The Guess Who
May 25 – 28: The Spinners
Time to talk about the food. Every festival that Epcot puts on always has an amazing selection of food and drink from around the world and the Flower & Garden Festival is no exception. In fact, this happens to be one of my favorite festivals at Epcot, because it’s not as crowded as the annual Food & Wine Festival, but still has a great selection of things to eat and drink.
Here’s the rundown of the menus for this year’s festival. If some of the items look familiar, they are. Some of the most popular items from previous year’s festivals have been brought back for a repeat appearance, while some new ones are making a debut.
Be sure to check back here throughout the festival as I work my way around and sample the different dishes and update this page with a quick review of each.
Bauernmarkt: Farmer’s Market (Germany)
- Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (V)
- REVIEW: A good, solid potato pancake that reminded me of the kind served at church picnics back in Pennsylvania!
- Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream
- REVIEW: That same type of potato pancake as above, but the small amount of ham and onions was enough to tease but not satisfy.
- Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese
- REVIEW: I had high expectations for this one, unfortunately it let me down. It was refrigerator cold when I expected it to be warm. Would have been MUCH better if warm!
- Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries
- Hugo-Charles De Fere “Organic” Brut with Elderflower and Mint
- Paulaner Original Munich Lager
- Ayinger Bräu Weisse Hefeweizen, Munich, Germany
- Köstritzer Schwarzbier Black Lager
- Beer Flight
Cider House (United Kingdom)
- Pear Cider-brined Shredded Corned Beef with Braised Cabbage and Branston Dressing with Pears
- REVIEW: This is always a good choice if you’re like me and enjoy corned beef. I describe it as St. Patrick’s Day dinner that would make your Irish mom proud.
- House-made Potato and Cheddar Cheese Biscuit with Smoked Salmon Tartare
- REVIEW: I’ve had this in the past and did not like it, so I stayed clear this year.
- Freshly Baked Lemon Scone with Crème Fraîche and Mixed Berries (V) (GF)
- McKenzie’s Black Cherry Hard Cider, West Seneca, NY
- Florida Beer Company Caribé Pineapple Tropical Hard Cider, Cape Canaveral, FL
- Ciderboys Grand Mimosa Apple Orange Hard Cider, Stevens Point, WI
- Cider Flight
- Martinelli’s Sparkling Cider, California (Non-alcoholic)
Fleur de Lys (France)
- Tarte à la Tomate Provençale: Provencal Tomato Tart with Sautéed Onions, Fresh Thyme and Rosemary on a Flaky Pastry Crust (V)
- Canard Confit Aux Gnocchi à la Parisienne: Braised Duck Confit with Parisian Gnocchi
- Macaron au Chocolat en Sucette: Large Chocolate Macaron Lollipop (GF)
- La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Grey Goose Orange, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice
- Kir Pomegranate: Sparkling Wine, Pama Pomegranate Liqueur
- Cabernet Sauvignon, Village de France
- Kronenbourg Blanc 1664
Florida Fresh (Between France & Morocco)
- Carne Guisada with Black Bean Cake and Cilantro Lime Sour Cream
- Spicy Blackened Shrimp and Stone-ground Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Local Sweet Corn Relish
- Key Lime Tart with Toasted Meringue
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Key Lime Sparkling Wine, St Petersburg, FL
- Tampa Bay Brewing Company Quat Seasonal Fruit Ale
- Big Top Brewing Company Conch Republic Key Lime Wheat, Sarasota, FL
- First Magnitude Brewing Co. Monarch Milk Stout, Gainesville, FL
- Watermelon Cucumber Slushy with Tamiami Florida Gin
- Watermelon Cucumber Slushy (Non-alcoholic)
- Beer Flight
Hanami (Japan)
- Frushi: Fresh Pineapple, Strawberry and Melon rolled with Coconut Rice, sprinkled with Toasted Coconut and Whipped Cream with Raspberry Sauce on the side (V)
- Ginger Beef Yaki Udon: Thin-sliced Beef, Onions and Noodles tossed on the grill with Soy and Ginger
- Teriyaki Salmon with Furikake Seasoned Brown Rice (GF)
- Pineapple Momo Sake Cocktail
- Kara Super Dry Sake
- Sapporo Premium Black Lager
Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
- Pork Taco: Slow-braised Pork Taco served with Apple Relish, Goat Cheese and Chile de Árbol Sauce
- Chilaquiles: Chilaquiles served with Chorizo, Mexican Cream and Cotija Cheese
- Capirotada: Bread Pudding served with Rompope
- Tiger Lily Sangria
- Rose Margarita
- Violet Cassis Punch
- Daisy Spicy Beer
La Isla Fresca (Caribbean)
- Jamaican-braised Beef with Pigeon Pea Rice and Micro Cilantro
- REVIEW: This one keeps returning year after year and for good reason… it’s great! A nice portion of tender, flavorful beef that can’t be beaten.
- Sugar Cane Shrimp Skewer with Steamed Rice and Coconut Lime Sauce
- REVIEW: Another returning favorite and a can’t miss! Great portion for the money.
- Caribbean Conch Salad with Mango, Papaya and Pickled Red Onions
- Tropical Mousse Cake: Layers of Passion Fruit Cake, Coconut Mousse and a Tropical Fruit Glaze with Fresh Pineapple
- Golden Road Brewing Tart Mango Cart Wheat Ale, Los Angeles, CA
- Tropical Freeze with Cruzan Mango Rum
- Tropical Freeze (Non-alcoholic)
Lotus House (China)
- Spicy Meatballs with Crispy Tofu
- Fried Chicken Dumplings with Peanut Sauce
- Vegetable Spring Rolls (V)
- Oolong Peach Bubble Tea (Non-alcoholic)
- Kung Fu Punch: Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango and Orange Juice
- BaiJoe Punch: Chinese Bai Jiu Spirit, Lychee, Coconut and Pineapple Juice
- Plum Wine Cooler
- Tsingtao Lager
Northern Bloom (Canada)
- Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Apple-wood Smoked Bacon (GF)
- Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce, Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables
- Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato
- Maple Popcorn Shake with Crown Royal Maple Whisky
- Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic)
- Unibroue Maudite Amber Ale, Chambly, Québec
- Unibroue À Tout Le Monde Saison, Chambly, Québec
- Unibroue Éphémère White Ale, Chambly, Québec
- Beer Flight
Pineapple Promenade
- Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips
- Pineapple Soft-Serve (V)
- Coastal Empire Beer Co. Coco Piña Gose, Savannah, GA
- Maui Brewing Co. Pineapple Mana Wheat, Kihei, HI
- SweetWater Brewing Company Goin’ Coastal IPA with Pineapple, Atlanta, GA
- Pineapple Beer Flight
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
- Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL
- Pineapple Soft-serve with Parrot Bay Coconut Rum
- Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)
- Pineapple Soft-serve with Fanta (Non-alcoholic)
Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
- Frittata di Asparagi: Asparagus Frittata, Mixed Greens and Citrus Dressing (GF) (V)
- Firtto Misto: Crispy Shrimps, Zucchini and Spicy Sauces
- Ravioli: Maine Lobster Ravioli with Vodka Sauce
- Panna Cotta al Melone: Cantaloupe Panna Cotta (GF) (V)
- Pinot Grigio
- Chianti
- Prosecco
- Corbinello
- Moscato
- Bellini: Sparking Wine and Peach Purée
- Frozen Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
- Moretti Lager L’Autentica
- Moretti La Rossa
Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco)
- Harissa Chicken Kebab with Dried Fruit Couscous Salad
- Fried Cauliflower with Capers, Garlic Parsley and Chili Ranch Sauce
- Walnut Honey Baklava
- Desert Rose: Sparkling Wine topped with Pomegranate Liqueur
- White Sangria
- Casa Beer
The Berry Basket
- Lamb chop with Quinoa Salad and Blackberry Gastrique
- REVIEW: Fans of lamb chops, like myself, will find this one hard to resist. Tender and flavorful although not a fan of the quinoa.
- Field Greens with fresh Strawberries, Crisp Quinoa, Strawberry Vinaigrette and Spiced Pecans (V)
- Warm Wild Berry Buckle with Pepper Berry Gelato (V)
- JDub’s Brewing Company Blueberry IPA, Sarasota, FL
- Island Grove Blueberry Moscato, Hawthorne, FL
- Twinings® Green Tea Berry Mint Julep
- Twinings Green Tea Berry Mint Julep (Non-alcoholic)
THE SMOKEHOUSE: Barbecue and Brews (America)
- Pulled Pig Slider with Coleslaw
- REVIEW: I’ve had this a few times and while the pork is great, sometimes there’s more bun than anything else. But still a good choice.
- Beef Brisket Burnt Ends and Smoked Pork Belly Slider with Garlic Sausage, Chorizo, Cheddar Fondue and House-made Pickle
- REVIEW: If you have to make a choice between this and the regular pork belly slider, go with this one – two great flavors in one!
- Beef Brisket Burnt Ends Hash with White Cheddar Fondue and Pickled Jalapeños
- REVIEW: Another favorite that comes back year after year and for good reason. A good solid dish if you like brisket.
- Warm Chocolate Cake with Bourbon-Salted Caramel Sauce and Spiced Pecans (V)
- Zen of Zin Old Vine, California
- Central 28 Brewing Company Sunshine Greetings Orange Hibiscus Wheat Ale, DeBary, FL
- 3 Daughters Brewing Phantasmas Spicy Double IPA, St. Petersburg, FL
- Shipyard Maple Bacon Stout, Clearwater, FL
- Beer Flight
- Frozen Lemonade with Firefly Blackberry Moonshine
- Frozen Lemonade (Non-alcoholic)
New for 2018: The Honey Bee-stro Hosted by National Honey Board
- Roasted Cauliflower with Buckwheat Honey Carrot Puree, Wild Rice Pilaf, Asparagus, Honey Blistered Grapes and Sunflower Brittle (GF) (V)
- Honey Tandoori Chicken Flatbread with White Cheddar Cheese, charred vegetables, Clover Honey Sour Cream and Micro Watercress
- Local Wildflower Honey-Mascarpone Cheesecake with Orange Blossom Honey Ice Cream garnished with Fennel Pollen Meringue Kisses
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Orange Blossom Honey Wine, St. Petersburg, FL
- Orange Blossom Brewing Co. Orange Blossom Pilsner, Orlando, FL
- Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze with Blueberry Vodka
- Honey-Peach Cobbler Freeze (Non-alcoholic)
If you’re going to this year’s International Flower & Garden Festival at Epcot, be sure to pick up an event guidebook to mark off what you’ve tried and to see the entire schedule of events.
