Oh, yeah, it is! You know it, and I can’t wait for it. “Food” & Garden ’14 is definitely almost here!
A little over a week ago, in a fit of near-despair over the lack of any 2014 Epcot International Flower & Garden (er, “Food” & Garden) Festival news whatsoever, I resorted to shooting out an “all-points bulletin” via Twitter. “Anyone hear any ‘Food’ & Garden menu news as yet?”, I asked.
I mean, what is up with the lack of information coming out of Epcot’s kitchen? Hello? Chefs? Do you know that “Food” & Garden opens in a mere six weeks? Six! How are we supposed to plan our menus if we don’t know what you’ll be serving?
Finally, two days ago, the blog-o-sphere started popping forth some details. I saw it first on Dining at Disney. Then, Disney Parks Blog provided the confirmation when they reported that Epcot’s, “Outdoor Kitchens, which debuted at the festival last year, will return to showcase a slew of new ‘sweet & savory’ and ‘spring-inspired’ menu items.”
Mmm. New items! Hey, wait a minute! Some of last year’s dishes were pretty darn good! Let’s not get too carried away, Chefs!
Researching this year’s festival on Disney’s own web page a bit further, we see that Epcot has announced ten marketplaces … with one more yet to be revealed. What’s the scoop? Here’s the initial “List of 10″:
- Florida Fresh
- Hanami (Japan)
- Jardin de Fiestas (Mexico)
- Fleur de Lys (France)
- Lotus House (China)
- Pineapple Promenade
- Primavera Kitchen (Italy)
- Taste of Marrakesh (Morocco)
- The Smokehouse: Barbecue and Brews (American Adventure)
- United Kingdom Outdoor Kitchen
The big question? What IS on the menu?! Well, no definite news as yet, but a quick read through the descriptions (or view of the pictures) of each marketplace on Disney’s site provides a few clues.
For example, one of my absolute favorite dishes in 2013 was Florida Fresh’s Shrimp and Stone-Ground Grits. Please, oh, please, tell me they are going to make it back to the “party” this year! Well, the Florida Fresh picture on Disney’s site is a bit on the small side, but it does look suspiciously like shrimp on a bed of grits. Yahoo! I sure hope they’re back!
Don’t forget to click on the names of the dishes in order to see a picture of 2013′s yummy items!
The paragraph for Jardin de Fiestas mentions “savory tacos”. A very good thing because Mexico’s Food & Wine tacos always please the crowd. Bring ‘em on, Chefs. And, hey! Step “Food” & Garden’s offering up a notch! 2013′s Crab Tostada and Pork Tacos were only so-so.
The Smokehouse challenges us to, “Sink [our] teeth into savory barbecue meats …” OK! Give it to me! Last year’s Pulled Pig Slider and Smoked Beef Brisket ruled the festival. Give them an encore appearance!
Finally, what do you think we’ll find at the Pineapple Promenade? Well, in 2012, it was this little lovely … spiced rum and all! Mmm. Dole Whip!
So, when will we get the scoop? When will Epcot clue us in to what they’ll have on their griddles, grills, and cook-tops at this year’s Spring feast?
Well, I did a little bit of digging, and it appears that the 2013 menus were spilled to the Disney-sphere on January 23rd. Hey! That’s later this week! Wahoo!!!
Bring on da’ food!
I wouldn’t mind seeing everything from Florida Fresh returning. It was all so good. I actually had seconds of everything there. Also, the spiced rum Dole Whip was too good for it not to return.
That shrimp n grits just rocked. The watermelon salad was outstanding too, I agree!