What have we been up to in the past week?

Well, we’ve seen all three of our appearances on Travel with Rick.  His episodes covering Brazil, Australia, and Singapore were a blast to record!  Did you catch them?  We can’t wait for our next opportunity to join Rick in bringing the best of WDW to you – our fans!

The FREE (!!!) All in WDW Food & Wine ’13 Pre-Festival e-Book has hit the ‘net with quite a few of you requesting a copy.  If you’re going to Food & Wine, take our e-Lists with you.  Send an email to [email protected] for your FREE copy.  Did I already say “FREE”?  Oh, and here’s a secret … work on the first revision is already underway!  Stay tuned!

Finally, our local “super-computer” has been busily digesting variable after variable in a valiant effort to re-forge the All in WDW Pre-Festival Top 25 into its final form.  And, just this morning, it issued our honorable (and dishonorable) mentions.

So, here you are … follow along for the next few days as we proudly introduce the official All in WDW 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Final Top 25!  Bon appetit!

Starting at the bottom – with a “Dishonorable” Mention – if you followed our crusade through World Showcase, you know where I’m heading.  You “got” me again, Germany. You used false advertising (unfounded rumors, actually) to reel me in, and I got “burned”.  Same ‘ole breakfast sausage, same super-small bun.  For us, it goes without saying that this item weighs in as “Not Recommended”.

Roast Bratwurst – Germany

Germany! What were you thinking?!

Actually, I’m going to be-labor this point a bit.  The best part of this dish was the “hidden Mickey” mustard!  Germany, you REALLY have to step it up in 2014.  In fact, I don’t know what your problem is!  I already did the work for you!  Did you even read what I wrote in my piece - Imagineering Food & Wine: Germany - on Kingdom Magic Vacations’ Blog?  No, you didn’t.  Here …

“For 2013, given the chance to write the menu, I would lean back on one of my favorite dishes (and, a traditional German favorite) – Pork Schnitzel.  I would bread it in Panko and cover it with a delicious gravy.  Then, I would serve Beef Sauerbraten with Potato Dumplings.”

Would that REALLY be so hard, Germany? Really? Arrgh!

When I presented the Pre-Festival Top 25, I mentioned that we’d likely try a few of the items from just ‘off’ the list – the Honorable Mentions, as it were.  Well, we tried three, but only one was a success.  We’ll talk about that dish later, but Greece’s Taste of Greece and New Zealand’s Venison Sausage, by our account, are, also, “Not Recommended”.

Venison Sausage – New Zealand

My initial comments say it all. “I think the black currant reduction was too sweet.  And, I didn’t like the overall taste of the [sausage].”  Was it the venison?  Was it the way the meat was seasoned?  I don’t know, but this plate was a ‘no go’.

Pre-Festival (Honorable Mention): Venison Sausage (New Zealand)

Taste of Greece – Greece

The htipiti (a dip of feta cheese and roasted red peppers) at the top left in the picture was outstanding. The eggplant dip (greenish and near the bottom right) was only so-so.  Likewise, the calamari (see the little white bits near the olives?) wasn’t especially noteworthy. The dish was good but not great, and one serving was plenty.

Pre-Festival (Honorable Mention): Taste of Greece (Greece)

Lemongrass Chicken Curry – Singapore

A surprise member of the “final” Honorable Mention list is going to be Singapore’s Lemongrass Chicken Curry.

Pre-Festival #22: Lemongrass Chicken Curry (Singapore)

If you recall, Singapore’s curry entered Food & Wine’s Opening Weekend at a pre-ranking of #22.  Well, as I reported earlier in this post, one of our pre-festival “honorables” fared quite well in its unscheduled tasting.  Since that “mystery” dish makes its way into All in WDW’s Final Top 25, something has to fall out of the pre-festival ranking and into “oblivion”.  Sorry, Singapore.  Quoting Rick Howard, ‘You did it to yourself’.

Singapore is simply another marketplace that did not read my “imagineering” work on Kingdom Magic Vacations’ Blog.  They would have learned that they should have upgraded their menu by adding Butter Chicken in 2013.  If they had heeded my advice, I’m sure they would have had a “winner”!

My friends, the real results start tomorrow.  Please stop back to find out what dishes finished at #’s 21 to 25 in the official All in WDW 2013 Epcot International Food & Wine Festival Final Top 25!

You’ve heard me report it a couple of times now.  Rick Howard, President of Kingdom Magic Vacations and host of the Travel with Rick video-cast, is spending the whole month of October covering each and every Food & Wine ’13 marketplace.

Well, jump over to Travel with Rick to see Mrs. All in WDW and myself engage Rick in a playful bout of banter and repartee’ as we enjoy Singaporean cuisine.

Is Singapore misunderstood? Did they step their cuisine up from years past? Will Rick admit that Singapore’s 2013 Food & Wine effort will exceed that of Scotland? What wager did we finally settle upon? Did we enjoy the Singapore Sling? Check out All in WDW on Travel with Rick!

Oh, and the riddle … I have to tell you, the Cast Members in Singapore are the masters of corn-ball jokes. As they served us their chicken curry, they quipped, “No need to worry, here’s your chicken curry!” Yeah, corn-ball.

So what do they say in Singapore when it’s raining? “It’s Singa-pouring!” Har, har, har. Ba-dum, dum.

Don’t hold it against us, fans. Go watch the show!!

Pre-Festival #10: Seared Mahi-Mahi (Singapore)

Pre-Festival #22: Lemongrass Chicken Curry (Singapore)

If you missed it yesterday, Rick Howard, President of Kingdom Magic Vacations and host of the Travel with Rick video-cast, invited us to join him on his quest to cover each and every Food & Wine ’13 marketplace in the month of October.  That found us smack dab in the middle of Australia!

Before we got there, however, I took a shot at an advanced review of the Aussies’ 2013 effort.  What grade did I give them?  Read my “Food & Wine ’13 Scouting Report: Australia” to find out.  Then, watch the show.  Did they do as well as I expected?

See you tomorrow for … SINGAPORE!

Click on the pic to see the full menu!

As you know, Rick Howard, President of Kingdom Magic Vacations and host of the Travel with Rick video-cast, is spending the whole month of October covering each and every Food & Wine ’13 marketplace.

Today is Australia … featuring All in WDW!  Yahoo!!  Join us as we devour lamb chop “lollipops”!  Mmmm.

Pre-Festival #18: Grilled Lamb Chop

Pre-Festival #20: Garlic Shrimp (Australia)

Pre-Festival Desserts #10: Pavlova (Australia)

If you missed it, Rick Howard, President of Kingdom Magic Vacations and host of the Travel with Rick video-cast, is spending the whole month of October covering each and every Food & Wine ’13 marketplace.  Yesterday, was Brazil … featuring Mrs. All in WDW, and myself!

Our thanks to Rick Howard and his Director of Marketing, John Donahue, for giving us such an incredible opportunity.  See us, again, in a few days as we cross the Pacific Ocean and land in Australia!

In the meantime, yesterday’s show wasn’t our first “visit” to Brazil.  Before the crispy pork belly and seared scallops even hit a plate, I was already busy trying to sort out just how well this marketplace would fare in its return to the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

You’ve seen the show (hopefully!).  Now, jump over to Kingdom Magic Vacations’ Blog in order to catch my Food & Wine ’13 Scouting Report: Brazil!  Did Brazil meet or exceed my expectations?  Or, did they fall short?  Read the “preview”.  Watch the show.  Only then will you know!

Click on the pic to see the full menu!

It’s the Travel with Rick video-cast brought to you by Kingdom Magic Vacations.  Rick is spending the whole month of October covering each and every Food & Wine ’13 marketplace.  See today’s episode – featuring All in WDW – here!

Seared Scallop.  Crispy Pork Belly.  Come join us as we feast on the best of Brazil!  All in WDW on Travel with Rick!

Pre-Festival #19: Seared Scallop (Brazil)

Pre-Festival #14: Crispy Pork Belly (Brazil)

In the meantime, if you missed it yesterday, we did slip two more – previously unranked – items onto our final-day menu this past Sunday.  Did you catch the “Flash Reports” yesterday?  If not, what did we try that we weren’t supposed to eat?

First, on sampling Argentina’s very popular Grilled Beef Skewer, I found it to be well-cooked and very tender.  Its Boniato (tropical sweet potato or white yam) Purée was very tasty and creamy, and its Chimichurri Sauce was unique and flavorful.  Great work, Argentina!  A complete improvement over my last taste … back in 2011.

Will this slip into the Top 25? If it does, what will get dropped off the list?!

Germany continues to disappoint with a familiar offering.  We had heard a rumor that they had upgraded their Roast Bratwurst into a better dish.  Hah!  Well, you “burned us” on that one, Germany.  Same old breakfast sausage.  Same old weak, mini pretzel roll.  Shame on you!  Step up your game!

This old thing … again?! C’mon, Germany! That’s weak!

Hey, fans!  Do you want a FREE 30-page portable copy of the “All in WDW Food & Wine 2013 e-Lists”? Send me an email at [email protected], and I’ll send you the PDF. Take our Top 25 lists to the festival with you!  It works really well on iPhone, for example.  I used it a ton while I carved from marketplace to marketplace this past weekend!

Cheers!

Well, on sampling yesterday, the dish’s Boniato (tropical sweet potato or white yam) Purée was very tasty and creamy and its Chimichurri Sauce was unique and flavorful.

I think this might be one Honorable Mention that has pushed itself into my Final Top 25.  Wait!  But, if it did, what pre-festival dish gets squeezed to the sidelines?  Hmm.

We had heard a “tip” that Germany had, indeed, changed things up a bit … that their Roast Bratwurst had been upgraded into a better dish. Well, shame on us for listening to rumor. And, shame on Germany for serving us the same old breakfast sausage on the same old too-small, tasteless pretzel roll.

The best part of this dish was the “hidden Mickey” mustard!  See it?  Germany, you REALLY have to step it up in 2014.  This dish makes our “dishonorable” mention list!  Sorry.  You did it to yourself!

You’ve hopefully seen the pictures, but, if you missed any, please stop back at the links below.  You get pics … as well as my quick, initial thoughts.

Day 1 Recap: Food & Wine ’13 “Soft” Opening Day!

Day 2 Recap: Food & Wine ’13 “Opening Day”!

As for Day 3, well, I mentioned the rules of “Food & Wine 101″ in my “Venison Sausage” post.  I’d like to return to those for a brief moment and add a few to them.

Yesterday, I said, “Rule #1 … and this is VERY important … hydrate.  Drink lots of water.  It is HOT out there – especially when you’re standing in long lines.  Rule #2 … everyone’s tastes are different.”

They’re both very true.  On Day 1, this year, I neglected Rule #1 without realizing that I had.  When we returned to the resort, I drank three bottles of cold water.  Only then did I catch my mistake.

Rule #2 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 or rank order.  There are just different choices or rank orders based on personal tastes.  For example, Mrs. All in WDW is already busily preparing her Final Top 25.  I assure you … it will be much different than mine.

Rule #3:  Use sunblock!  Last year, I got terribly sunburned on my first day at the “party”.  This year, I was smarter, and, now, I’m much happier.

Rule #4:  The companion to Rule #3.  Seek shade at every opportunity!

Rule #5:  If you’re in a party of two or more, one of you stand in line and one of you seek a table.  In these crowds, places to eat are hard to find.  Mrs. All in WDW and I have a system.  She grabs the table, and I grab the “grub”.

Rule #6:  When at all possible, combine Rule #4 and Rule #5.  Find a shady table!

Rule #7:  Share a table!  If someone asks to share your table, by all means say ‘yes’.  It might be you looking for a place to cut your filet next time!

Rule #8:  Unless you’re a crazy blogger looking to snap pictures of everything as soon as the festival opens, DON’T come on opening weekend.  The lines are Ca-RAZY long!  All of you who have told me that you’re coming next week, I have this to say … GOOD planning!

I’m sure we’ll think of more, but we wanted to pass those along as a start.  In the meantime, please enjoy one last photo tour through Epcot’s world of Food & Wine!

Pre-Festival Desserts #24: Orange Dole Whip with Crème de Cacao White (Refreshment Port)

Pre-Festival #25: Fisherman’s Pie (Ireland)

The tasty insides.

Pre-Festival #24: Beef Empanada (Argentina)

More insides!

Pre-Festival #11: Scottish Salmon (Scotland)

Pre-Festival #2: “Le Cellier” Filet Mignon (Canada)

Pre-Festival #12: Seared Trout (Canada)

Pre-Festival #21: Chicken Gyro (Greece)

Pre-Festival (Honorable Mention): Taste of Greece (Greece)

Pre-Festival (Honorable Mention): Venison Sausage (New Zealand)

Pre-Festival #6: Mongolian Beef (China)

Finally, I would like to give a “shout out” to Sal Tracanna  of the Team Disney Podcast and thebestmagic.net and his fiance’ Melissa.  They just got engaged on this trip but still carved out a little of their vacation to spend a few moments chatting with Mrs. All in WDW and myself.  Congratulations, guys!

By the way, do you remember the rating team that rank-ordered our Readers’ Top 25?  Melissa was one of our culinary experts, and she told me just how much fun she had sorting all 25 dishes into order.  It was easy, eh, Melissa?!

Melissa took this shot of Sal and I. Thanks, Melissa!