Epcot International Festival of the Arts – Best Thing We Ate

We tried a few specialty food offerings at this year’s Epcot Festival of the Arts this year. Some were good, some were great, all were certainly creative. One delectable dish stood out from the rest and I’m still thinking about how very tasty it was. (I’m trying to forget about the calories.)

Festival of the Arts, as the name implies, gives food booths and kiosks the opportunity to show off clever culinary works of art that showcase the artistry of plating and the beauty of specialty ingredients.

A great example of this was an offering from the POP EATS! booth. We chose the Sous Vide Chicken Roulade ($6.75) “Served with Apples and Sage, Warm Brie Fondue, Blueberry and Beet Gel, and Garnished with Apple and Beet Chips” This dish certainly sounded interesting (to say the least). We paired that selection with the Almond Frangipane Cake ($4.50) “Layered with Raspberry Jam and Callebaut Belgian Chocolate”.

Open-minded were we when we dug in! The chicken was delicious and none of the garnishments were overpowering. The flavors were nicely balanced. The cake (remember I don’t have a sweet tooth) was meh. I didn’t hate it, but it wasn’t great. I feel like maybe the vibrant colors were a bit off-putting as well.

Epcot Festival of the Arts – Best Thing We Ate

On each visit to Epcot, I searched for things that appealed to both Raymond and me so we could share. There was one, extra-tempting item I kept hearing about. It wasn’t located in World Showcase, but sounded exactly like a dish we would both love. We headed for Taste Track in Future World East. We didn’t even know this place existed. What did they have that we couldn’t resist? I’ll tell you – it was the best thing we ate at Festival of the Arts!

Lobster Bacon Macaroni and Cheese!

Served in a warm bread cone, this stuff was scrumptious! The temperature, texture, and flavors were perfect which seemed to me no easy accomplishment. Unless you have a shellfish allergy (I’m sorry for you, Nick and Heather) – I would not miss an opportunity to try this dish if they bring it back next year. Oh, boy, it was great. Raymond and I polished the entire thing off in mere moments. It was hard to share, but the $8.00 price tag kept us from buying a second serving.

Have you tried this Lobster Bacon Mac & Cheese? What was your favorite Festival of the Arts food?

Who Would Love Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts?

Here in Louisiana, festivals are an entertainment staple.  Small towns and big cities alike pride themselves on offering unique experiences and some, like my personal favorite, Abbeville’s Giant Omelet Celebration have a rich history and are quite popular.  For me, there are three essential components that all festivals must do well:  Food, Music, Arts & Crafts.  Epcot’s festivals are no exception to the aforementioned rule and as one might expect, those Disney folks go all out in the three main categories.  In it’s third year, Epcot’s newest addition to the festival lineup proves (for 39 days) that Disney festivals are the best.

Who Would Love Epcot’s International Festival of the Arts?

Epcot's International Festival of the Arts

Let’s talk about the food!  It’s fancy.  13 food studios, spread throughout the park, offer hungry guests delicious and artistic selections.  In 2018 we tried a dish from the American Adventure pavilion and it was as tasty as it was good looking.  Foodies will find plenty of culinary specialties to enjoy.  See the full menu here.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

What about music?  There’s a concert series and it’s extra special.  Featuring Disney on Broadway stars, the Festival of the Arts’ concerts are uniquely different from those offered during Flower & Garden or Food & Wine.  Take a peek at this year’s lineup and tell me you wouldn’t want to give it a listen.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Arts and Crafts…well, maybe just arts.  But it’s awesome Disney art by Disney artists and it’s displayed all over the place.  Last year the weather was awful during our short visit to the festival (we were at WDW dropping Joseph off for the Disney College Program).  We felt cheated that we didn’t have more time and less rain.  We loved checking out all the art styles and wanted to buy something, but time got away from us.  I’m not letting that happen again this year.

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Okay, so the Festival of the Arts checks off all the necessary boxes, but WAIT there’s MORE!  You can speak with the visiting artists and attend seminars and workshops.  Let’s not forget about Figment’s Brush with the Masters Scavenger Hunt!  (On my must-do list.)  Also, guests can put themselves into famous art classics for excellent and hilarious photo ops. (This year, I hope to pose for photos not wearing a rain jacket!)

Epcot International Festival of the Arts

Our last experience at the Festival of the Arts left us wanting more, so we’ve blocked out lots of time to enjoy all it has to offer. Stay tuned for more about the festivities when we get back.

Have you been to the Festival of the Arts? What did you enjoy the most? Is it on your Disney radar for something you’d like to do one day?