Let’s see another show of hands. Who, here, remembers All in WDW’s “Top 15″ Rules for Taking on Food & Wine!? Do you also remember my favorite of all those rules?
It’s Rule #14: Everyone’s tastes are different. This rule is actually my favorite. It’s also the reason I LOVE the Food & Wine festival. Everyone’s tastes are different, and I love the conversation that this fact generates. Just keep in mind – there’s no wrong choice. There are just different choices … based on personal taste!
In other words, I can assure you that the eighteen items left “alive” after last week’s three days of voting (see yesterday’s post) are a bit different from what I would have selected myself. As a result, some of the items placed in “the fridge” have actually made my Pre-Festival Top 25!
I should confess, at this point, that All in WDW’s “official” Pre-Festival Menu is, more or less, decided. Oh, the bottom few items generally shift on and off or up and down the list, but I’m, pretty much, ready to eat.
Where do we differ to this point? Well, I’m going to duck and hide when I say this but it starts with Canada’s Cheddar Cheese Soup.
It’s a very tasty and wildly popular dish, but, with 66 entrees to choose from, I just can’t see something so (yes, I’m going to say it) mundane making my dinner menu. Australia’s Garlic Shrimp and Hops & Barley’s Artisan Cheese Plate suffer the same fate.
Another fan favorite – Belgium’s Waffle with Chocolate Ganache – has also been squeezed off my target list. As has the Belgium Waffle with Berry Compote. The berry version will come up in next week’s voting, but I guess my Food & Wine DNA is thinking “lunch and dinner”. Not “breakfast”.
Sorry, Belgium. I’m going to pass this year.
On the other hand, when it comes to what’s in “the fridge”, I think there are a few dishes that may be worthy of you taking a closer look.
For instance, sticking with the waffles, a savory Beer-braised Beef, Potato, and Leek Waffle really intrigues me … again. True, they had a version of this last year, and it was OK, but did you see the part about it being “beer-braised”? I have to try it!
Mrs. All in WDW and I can’t pass by New Zealand’s Lamb Meatball. First of all, we don’t get to enjoy lamb all that often. Secondly, it is just so good. We’re looking forward to an encore serving.
I can say the same for South Korea’s Kimchi Dog. Yes, I know. It’s a hot dog. This is a festival of culinary “masterpieces”. A hot dog? Folks, I have to tell you … the flavors are phenomenal. It’s one of the festival’s more inexpensive items. It’s worth the try.
Finally, we’re aiming to try Patagonia’s Roasted Verlasso Salmon. Was it the word “Verlasso” that turned you off? Maybe you’re not fans of salmon? First, “Verlasso” is merely a brand name. I imagine a nicely roasted piece of salmon … of which I am a fan. It’s in my Top 25!
There you go, my friends. Perfect examples of Rule #14! Everyone’s tastes are different. We just have to remember that there are no wrong choices. There are just different choices … based on personal taste!
Bon appetit!
