Outdoor Kitchens Being Prepped For Start of EPCOT’s Flower & Garden Festival
Tomorrow is the day for all you fans of the EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival. This popular springtime fest officially kicks off tomorrow (March 2nd) and will run through until July 4th. One of the highlights of the Festival each year are the incredible outdoor kitchens where you can sample an eclectic array of eats and treats.
Our MickeyBlogger is on the scene at EPCOT just now where an exciting transformation is happening as the World Showcase is transformed into a culinary playground. Let’s make our way around and check out this year’s kitchens:
We’ll start at the Mexican Pavilion with Jardin de Fiestas! Here you’ll find some incredible Mexican-inspired eats and some mean Margaritas!
This year’s food menu is as follows:
Food
- Enchilada de Mole Negro: Chipotle Chicken in a Corn Tortilla with Mole Negro, Avocado Mousse, Crema Mexicana and Queso Fresco (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Taco Vampiro: Barbacoa Beef in a Corn Tortilla with Crispy Grilled Monterey Jack Cheese, Salsa Ranchera and Esquites (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Tostada de Chorizo: Plant-based Chorizo and Black Beans on Crispy Corn Tortilla with Avocado Mousse and Queso Fresco (gluten/wheat-friendly)
Beverages
- Poppy Flower Margarita: Curamia Tequila Blanco, Hibiscus Flower Tea, Cucumber Juice, Aperitivo and Lejay Blackcurrant Liqueur with a Chile Salt Rim
- Hypnotic Margarita: Corazón Tequila Blanco, Ilegal Mezcal Joven, Rosemary, Hpnotiq Cognac and Lemon Juice
- Craft Mexican Lager
Next on our List is Lotus House which features Chinese favorites like Chicken Skewers and both alcoholic and non-alcoholic boba!
Here’s a review of the menu:
Food
- Spicy Mala Chicken Skewer
- House-made Cheesy Crab Wontons
Beverages
- Rose Bubble Milk Tea (non-alcoholic)
- Jasmine Draft Beer
- Marco Boba: Amaretto, Iced Coffee, Milk and Boba
- Kung Fu Punch: Smirnoff Vodka, Triple Sec, Mango, Orange Juice and Soda Water
- Tang Dynasty: Jose Cuervo Especial Tequila Gold, Light Rum, Strawberry, Piña Colada Mix, White Boba Pearls and Soda Water
As we continue our culinary tour around the World Showcase, next up is Bauernmarket! Here you’ll find a menu brimming with Bavarian goodness.
Here’s a look:
Food
- Potato Pancakes with House-made Apple Sauce (plant-based and gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Potato Pancake with Caramelized Ham, Onions and Herb Sour Cream (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Toasted Pretzel Bread topped with Black Forest Ham and Melted Gruyère Cheese
- Warm Cheese Strudel with Mixed Berries
Beverages
- M.I.A. Brewing Hugo, Doral, FL
- Bitburger Premium Pils, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
- Stiegl Brewery Radler Raspberry, Salzburg, Austria
- Apfelschaumwein: Sparkling Wine and Apple Liqueur
- Beer Flight
Heading into Italy, the Primavera Kitchen is back serving up delectable dishes.
Here’s a preview of the menu:
Food
- Arancini: Fried Risotto Balls stuffed with Braised Beef served with Grape Tomato Salad and Balsamic Emulsion
- Ravioli alla Boscaiola: Sweet Sausage Ravioli with Sweet Corn, Spring Vegetables and Cream Sauce
- Bomboloni: Cream-filled Italian Doughnut with Raspberry Sauce and Powdered Sugar
Beverages
- Peroni Pilsner
- Pinot Grigio
- Chianti
- Prosecco
- Rosa Regale
- Moscato
- Italian White Sangria with Prosecco
- Italian Red Sangria with Cabernet Sauvignon
- Italian Margarita with Limoncello and Tequila
The cherry blossoms are blooming over at the Hanami Outdoor Kitchen at the Japan Pavilion.
Food
- Frushi: Strawberry, Pineapple and Cantaloupe wrapped in Sweet Rice and Pink Soy Wrap served with Whipped Cream, Drizzled Berry Sauce and Toasted Coconut
- Chicken Yakitori: Grilled Chicken with Scallions, Red Pepper-Shoyu Emulsion and Pickled Onions
- Beef Tataki: Seared Sirloin with Red Shiso Sauce, Watermelon Radish and Sprouts
Beverages
- Yuzu Tilted Tonic Hard Seltzer
- Ozeki Pineapple Nigori Sake
- Cucumber Cooler: Sake, Vodka, and Cucumber garnished with a Cucumber Slice
The fresh tastes of tropical climes abound at La Isle Fresca!
The menu features Caribbean-seasoned dishes including:
Food
- Arepas topped with Melted Queso Fresco
- Arepa topped with Shrimp, Crushed Avocado Ají and Tomato Sauce
- Arepa topped with Chorizo
- Coconut Tres Leches: Vanilla Cake soaked in Oat Milk, Almond Milk and Coconut Milk with Toasted Coconut (plant-based)
There’s also a nice array of Cocktails, Wines and Beers:
Beverages
- Tropical Breeze: Lemonade, Grapefruit and Simple Syrup (non-alcoholic)
- Islamorada Beer Company Coconut Key Lime Ale, Islamorada, FL
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Tropical Perception White Sangria, St. Petersburg, FL
- Tropical Breeze with Don Q Límon Rum
We popped by the France Pavilion but the menus haven’t gone up here quite yet.
However, here’s a quick preview:
Food
- Croissant au Fromage de Chèvre, Herbes et ail Rôtie: Croissant with Goat Cheese, Herbs and Roasted Garlic
- Pan Bagnat Classique: The Niçoise Sandwich with House-made bread, Albacore Tuna, Mayonnaise, Tomato, Black Olives, Lettuce and Celery
- Salade de Lentilles à la Lyonnaise: French Green Lentil Salad with Bacon and Garlic Sausage
- Beignet Caramélisé, Fourré Crème Vanille, Glacé au Caramel Fleur de Sel: Caramelized Beignet filled with Vanilla Cream and Glazed with Caramel Fleur de Sel
Beverages
- Kronenbourg Blanc 1664 Draft Beer
- VeRy Raspberry: Rosé Wine with Natural Raspberry Flavor
- Grand Mimosa Cocktail with Grand Marnier, Champagne, and Orange Juice
- La Vie en Rose Frozen Slushy: Vodka, Grey Goose L’Orange Vodka, St. Germain Liqueur, White and Red Cranberry Juice
I absolutely adore the thatched-cottage style of the Cider House. Here you’ll find buzz-worthy ciders and artisanal provisions
The menu includes:
Food
- BLT Scone with Nueske’s® Applewood Smoked Bacon, Sundried Tomato and Basil
- Dark Chocolate Raspberry Tart with Whipped Cream
Beverages
- 3 Daughters Brewing Pink Lemonade Hard Cider, St. Petersburg, FL
- Bold Rock Watermelon Hard Cider, Nellysford, VA
- Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Triple Jam Hard Cider, Armada, MI
- Samuel Smith Old Brewery Pure Brewed Organic Lager, Tadcaster, UK
- Snakebite: Blake’s Hard Cider Co. Triple Jam Hard Cider and Samuel Smith Old Brewery Pure Brewed Organic Lager
- Cider Flight
Northern Bloom has always been a festival favorite.
Here’s a menu preview:
Food
- Seared Scallops with French Green Beans, Butter Potatoes, Brown Butter Vinaigrette and Applewood-smoked Bacon (gluten/wheat friendly)
- Beef Tenderloin Tips, Mushroom Bordelaise Sauce and Whipped Potatoes with Garden Vegetables
- Griddled Maple Pound Cake with Warm Peach Compote and Sweet Corn Gelato
Beverages
- Maple Popcorn Shake (non-alcoholic)
- Glutenberg Blonde Ale, Montreal, Quebec
- Collective Arts Brewing Blueberry Fruit Beer, Hamilton, Ontario
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Apricot with Maple Syrup, Tampa, FL
- Maple Popcorn Shake with Tap 357 Maple Rye Whisky
- Beer Flight
You can’t miss the colorful exterior of The Citrus Blossom!
Lemon, Orange and Grapefruit are the focus of this outdoor kitchen.
Food
- Crispy Mojo Marinated Pork Belly, Avocado Cream, Corn Salsa, Salsa Verde and Plantain Chips (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Tuna Tataki Bowl with Spicy Yuzu Glaze, Mango, Avocado and Pappadam Crisp
- Grapefruit Tart: Grapefruit Curd, Lychee Jam, Ginger Mousse and Yuzu Cream
Beverages
- Orange-Lemon Smoothie in a Souvenir Orange Bird Sipper Cup (non-alcoholic)
- Islamorada Beer Company Key Lime Hibiscus Ale, Islamorada, FL
- Wicked Weed Brewing Orange Peel Ale, Asheville, NC
- 81Bay Brewing Co. Citrus Honey Cream Ale, Tampa, FL
- Orange Sunshine Wine Slushy
- Beer Flight
The Citrus Bowl is the place to go to get your Orange Bird Sipper. For this reason, lines can get a bit long so we advise arriving early!
Equally as colorful is Pineapple Promenade where you can get your tropical fruit fix!
The menu includes:
Food
- Spicy Hot Dog with Pineapple Chutney and Plantain Chips
- DOLE Whip® (plant-based)
Beverages
- Frozen Desert Violet Lemonade (non-alcoholic)
- DOLE Whip® with Fanta® (non-alcoholic)
- 3 Daughters Brewing Tropical Hefe Wheat Ale, St. Petersburg, FL
- Wicked Weed Brewing Fresh Pressed Mango, Pineapple and Guava Wheat Ale, Asheville, NC
- Point Brewery Hazy Pebbles Fruity Hazy Milkshake IPA, Stevens Point, WI
- Playalinda Brewing Company Violet Lemonade Ale, Titusville, FL
- Florida Orange Groves Winery Sparkling Pineapple Wine, St. Petersburg, FL (glass/bottle)
- DOLE Whip® topped with Sōmrus Mango Cream Liqueur
- Pineapple Beer Flight
The boozy Dole Whip Drinks and Pineapple Beer Flights are sure to make Pineapple Promenade a popular spot in 2022.
Sponsored by AdventHealth, Flavorful Full is all about healthy and nourishing dishes.
This year’s menu is as follows:
Food
- Grilled Street Corn on the Cob with Savory Garlic Spread (plant-based and gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Seared Verlasso® Salmon with Farro Risotto and Micro Herbs
- Strawberry Mousse with Chocolate Crisp Pearls
Beverages
- Blood Orange Agua Fresca (non-alcoholic)
- Cookie Butter Worms and Dirt (non-alcoholic)
Next up is Farmer’s Feast. You’ll find this kitchen near Test Track. They’ll be changing up the menu here three times during Flower & Garden but here’s a look at the first round of goodies:
Early Bloom Menu – March 2 through April 9, 2022
- Chilled Potato and Leek Soup “Vichyssoise” with Chive Oil and Crispy Leeks (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Chargrilled Bison Ribeye with Creamy Leek Fondue, Roasted Carnival Cauliflower, Romanesco and Port Wine-Goat Cheese Butter (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Goat Cheese Creamsicle Pop: Goat Cheese Crémeux, Orange Cream, Olive Oil Cake, Cranberry Sauce and Praline
Beverages:
- Collective Arts Raspberry Lemon Verbena Whole Leaf Steeped Sparkling Hard Tea, Hamilton, Ontario
- Hibiscus Lemonade Cocktail featuring Islamorada Brewery & Distillery Hibiscus Gin
Sunshine Griddle also near Test Track is all about the delicious breakfast dishes.
Entrees include:
Food
- Avocado Toast with Marinated Toybox Tomatoes on Toasted Ciabatta (plant-based)
- Shrimp and Grits: Blackened Shrimp and Cheddar Cheese Grits with Brown Gravy and Sweet Corn Salsa
- Corned Beef Brisket Hash with House-made Potato Barrels, Onions, Peppers, Cheese Curds and a Soft-poached Egg with Tabasco® Hollandaise (gluten/wheat-friendly)
- Fried Cinnamon Roll Bites with Cream Cheese Frosting and Candied Bacon
Beverages
- Froot Loops® Shake (non-alcoholic)
- Joffrey’s Coffee™ Cold Brew Cocktail with Milk, Kahlúa Rum and Coffee Liqueur, and Vanilla Vodka
I’ll take one of everything please!
Not all of the booths have gone up by the time we left EPCOT this afternoon. But don’t worry Disney friends, we’ll be back tomorrow to cover the first day of the 2022 EPCOT International Food & Wine Festival and trust me when I say that you won’t want to miss a thing!
Didn’t make it to Disney in 2021!? Well we’ve got some fantastic news- Disney Packages are currently available to book through the end of 2022! That gives you plenty of time to plan that magical getaway and I’m here to help.
With new policies and procedures in place during the year ahead, there’s never been a better time to work with an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner who can help you navigate through Disney World’s new way of doing things! I’ll be on hand to assist with everything from finding that perfect package and getting the best deals to organizing park passes, Disney Genie+ and dining reservations. Best of all- my services are ABSOLUTELY FREE!
Just fill out my form HERE to get your FREE, no-obligation quote. Alternatively, feel free to reach out at mroden@mickeytravels.com or follow along on Facebook