The Epcot International Food & Wine Festival – Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It!

I’ve made note on my Facebook page about the amazing activities Walt Disney World offers in the fall, including Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party and the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.

Those familiar with the Festival usually think of only the food and beverages that are available for purchase from multiple booths around World Showcase in Epcot. While the food and wine offerings are the most popular part of the Festival.  In recent years additional events, demonstrations and seminars have been added to the schedule that can be seen here.

On my recent visit I had the opportunity to take one of the new Mix It, Make It, Celebrate It! workshops. The workshops are $49 per person with tax included, and do require theme park admission to Epcot.  Advanced reservations are suggested as there is limited seating.

The workshop I attended, titled “Chocolate Ganache Kisses”, was hosted by Amanda Lauder, Chocolatier at The Ganachery located in Disney Springs.  We checked in for the workshop at The Festival Center and were given tickets for the event.  We proceeded to the show kitchen and were seated with two other guests.

Our tables had been set up prior to our arrival with all of the items necessary to make our kisses.

Our first instruction was to take a small bite of the Vanilla Ganache Square, and to really enjoy all of the texture and taste it had to offer.

We then proceeded to pipe out the ganache kisses.  Easier said than done in my opinion.

(Insert juvenile jokes here )

During this time we were also each given a glass of Prosecco.  Delish!

After the kisses had time to set, we dipped each one in a wonderful tempered chocolate.  I could have just drunk it from the cup.

After dipping, we placed each kiss on the “transfer sheet” with The Ganachery G in gold leaf.

We were given dried raspberries and sea salt to garnish each kiss.

They also supplied cellophane bags and stickers for us to use for our treats.

I was mostly happy with the finished product and the not-so-pretty kisses may have been eaten.

This workshop was fun and enjoyable.  The timing of this workshop and the chocolate was not well suited for the 103 degree real feel weather we were experiencing that day.  It may have been better suited for later on in the Festival when temperatures are (maybe) cooler.

My Kisses did survive the heat though, but didn’t fair so well in my carry-on luggage.  But, the smashed Kisses taste just as good as the pretty ones tasted.

If you’d like to see more of the Festival, I found an informative and fun video review of the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival by Serena Lyn.  You can check it out here.  Serena is an Orlando local who enjoys  keeping people up to date on what’s happening in and around the Disney parks.  She has a great website too – www.livingbydisney.com and you can follow her on Instagram @livingbydisney.

 

Would you be interested in taking one of these workshops?  Have you visited the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival in the past?  Tell us about your experience!

As always, please contact me to plan your next “Magical Adventure”.

Betsy

PS – Special thanks to Serena Lyn for allowing me to include her YouTube video in my blog.