EPCOT’s FOOD & WINE FESTIVAL 2024: Top 6 New Foods You MUST Try
One of my favorite places to be in the height of summer is the moistest city on the planet: Orlando, FL. And if the world needs someone to try every single new food at EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival, I’m the guy for the job.
Joined by my fellow Foodbeasts, Brayden and Erick “Beastly Appetite,” we embarked on a mission to tackle the daunting task of eating every new dish on the EPCOT Food & Wine menu—from every booth, in every country represented—all within 24 hours. Our goal? To find the Top 6 Foods You Need to Try in case you also have just 24 hours, a set budget, and limited stomach space.
Keep in mind, there are hundreds of incredible menu items to choose from. For a full list of all the new foods and our thoughts, check out our YouTube video here. But if you’re looking for a sneak peek, here’s our spoiler list of The Top 6 Foods from EPCOT’s Food & Wine Festival 2024:
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Pan De Elote [Mexico]
The moment we tasted the traditional Mexican cornbread topped with chocolate sauce and queso fresco, it shot straight to the top of our list.
Throughout our trip, both Disney Cast Members and fellow park-goers raved about the food in the Mexico area, and while none of the savory dishes made our top picks, this dessert is a must-try. The sweet corn, rich chocolate syrup, and salty cotija cheese come together like a perfect game of Tetris in your stomach—make room for this one.
Throughout our trip, both Disney Cast Members and fellow park-goers raved about the food in the Mexico area, and while none of the savory dishes made our top picks, this dessert is a must-try. The sweet corn, rich chocolate syrup, and salty cotija cheese come together like a perfect game of Tetris in your stomach—make room for this one.
Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Sweet Potato Mousse [Swirl Showcase]
Liquid Nitrogen Frozen Sweet Potato Mousse with candied pecans and maple-caramel sauce from the Swirl Showcase was the innovation we expect from this booth, year-over-year.
This booth is always on some elevated science fair fiascos, but with depth and class. The sweet potato mousse is a mild blend of fresh sweetness from the sweet potato, and the quick freeze in liquid nitrogen gives a unique crispy and mousse-y experience you’ll want to enjoy immediately.
Highly recommend stopping by this booth for a dessert that will surely pair nicely with the moist Orlando humidity.
This booth is always on some elevated science fair fiascos, but with depth and class. The sweet potato mousse is a mild blend of fresh sweetness from the sweet potato, and the quick freeze in liquid nitrogen gives a unique crispy and mousse-y experience you’ll want to enjoy immediately.
Highly recommend stopping by this booth for a dessert that will surely pair nicely with the moist Orlando humidity.
Chocolate Pudding Cake [The American Adventure]
Described as a “Freshly-baked Chocolate Pudding Cake with bourbon caramel,” this dessert is essentially an on-the-go version of an inverted lava cake you’d typically find in American steakhouses. It’s a welcome surprise at the Food & Wine Festival, especially fitting in The American Adventure zone.
Lush, decadent, and the perfect grand finale, this dessert shares the stage with an all-star lineup of American hot dogs at the same booth—one of which made our Top 6 new foods you need to try!
Lush, decadent, and the perfect grand finale, this dessert shares the stage with an all-star lineup of American hot dogs at the same booth—one of which made our Top 6 new foods you need to try!
Southwest-style All Beef Hot Dog
Yes, we’re at a Food & Wine Festival, and yes, a hot dog has earned a spot among the top new foods you must try. It’s particularly amusing when you consider that decades ago, Disneyland and Disney World aimed to transcend the typical amusement park fare—like hot dogs—and become culinary destinations in their own right. Yet here we are, with this hot dog standing out as one of the best new bites at the festival this year.
This dish is a perfect blend of southwestern flavors and LA street dog vibes, a delightful subversion of what you’d expect to taste at a Disney Food & Wine Festival. You can’t go wrong with this one. It might be our California bias that pushed it so high on the list, but trust us—go eat this.
This dish is a perfect blend of southwestern flavors and LA street dog vibes, a delightful subversion of what you’d expect to taste at a Disney Food & Wine Festival. You can’t go wrong with this one. It might be our California bias that pushed it so high on the list, but trust us—go eat this.
Autumn Chili [Forest & Field]
The Joe Rogan Special, also known as the Autumn Chili, is a hearty dish featuring bison, lamb, pork belly, root vegetables, jalapeño cornbread, smoked cheddar, and crème fraîche. It’s easily one of the most wholesome offerings at the entire festival.
If you manage to get a spoonful with bison, lamb, pork belly, and a touch of crème fraîche all in one bite, you’re in for one of the most magical mouthfuls of the day. Trust us.
If you manage to get a spoonful with bison, lamb, pork belly, and a touch of crème fraîche all in one bite, you’re in for one of the most magical mouthfuls of the day. Trust us.
Brioche aux Escargots [France]
One of the beautiful aspects of a proper Food & Wine Festival is the global representation you get to experience. Since snails rarely appear on my local restaurant menus, I was stoked to find the Brioche aux Escargots—a fluffy brioche filled with a rich garlic and parsley cream, and plump, juicy, succulent escargots (snails!).
While you’re there, also try the Moelleux aux Oignons Caramélisés et au Fromage de Chèvre, a savory egg dish with goat cheese and caramelized onions. It’s a new addition, and on the off chance it doesn’t return next year, I highly recommend giving it a whirl.
This was the absolute best bite of the entire festival.
While you’re there, also try the Moelleux aux Oignons Caramélisés et au Fromage de Chèvre, a savory egg dish with goat cheese and caramelized onions. It’s a new addition, and on the off chance it doesn’t return next year, I highly recommend giving it a whirl.
This was the absolute best bite of the entire festival.
