The “party” is finally here, my friends!  Delicious entrees.  Refreshing beverages.  Yes, the 2018 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival kicks off today!

Of course, as I mentioned on our special Festival Preview episode of the WDW Main Street Podcast, I’ll regrettably have to miss out on this year’s fun.  It makes me very sad.

Episode 467 – It’s Food & Wine 2018!

That’s right, folks.  No food pics coming from me this year.  For those, check out the Disney Food Blog.  They do a great job of serving up Epcot’s delectable fare.

2017’s Roasted Irish Sausage!

In the meantime, after seven straight years of festival attendance, I’ve sampled a lot of Food & Wine’s best … and worst.  I can’t let this unfortunate year slip by without posting my personal recommendations.

So .. if I had been able to attend this year’s “bash”, what would I have tried?  Well, here it is … the 2018 All in WDW Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Top 20!

1. Roasted Irish Sausage – Ireland
2. Roasted Pork Wings – Flavors from Fire
3. Spice-crusted Verlasso Salmon – Active Eats
4. Seared Scallops – Coastal Eats
5. New Brunswick Slider – Hops & Barley
6. Lump Crab Cake – Coastal Eats
7. Brazilian Seafood Stew – Brazil
8. Lamb Meatball – New Zealand
9. Xi’an Pancake with Beef – China
10. Seafood Salad – Spain
11. Charred Chimichurri Skirt Steak – Flavors from Fire
12. Spanish-style Paella – Spain
13. Bloody Mary Seafood Cocktail – The Festival Center Wine Shop
14. Kalua Pork Slider – Hawai’i
15. Ropa Vieja Empanada – Islands of the Caribbean
16. Beer-braised Beef – Belgium
17. Short Rib Tostada – Mexico
18. Beer-braised Beef – France
19. Jerk-spiced Chicken Lollipop – Islands of the Caribbean
20. Shrimp Quesadilla – Mexico

Honorable Mentions

• Le Cellier Beef Filet Mignon – Canada
• Korma Chicken – India
• Crispy Pork Belly – Brazil
• Beef Brisket Poutine – Refreshment Port
• Pasta Gratin – Germany

2017’s Seared Scallops from Active Eats!