The 2017 Epcot Food and Wine Festival will be here before you know it! We’re counting down the days, and soon, we’ll be Eating and Drinking our way Around the World with you guys!

And recently, we shared a TON of info with you! We now know the full list of Booths, Menus, and Special Events. But best of all, we know booking dates! Mark you calendars for July 20!

We are still awaiting schedules for Culinary Demos and Beverage Seminars, and Hand On Workshops, we’re sharing a closer look at some of the fantastic events that we enjoyed at the 2016 Epcot Food and Wine Festival.

While the Marketplace Booths are great for grazing and tasting food from all over the globe, we love the opportunity to take in Culinary Demonstrations — and possibly learn a little something new. In addition, it’s fun to check out suggested pairing. And you always leave a culinary demo armed with a brand new recipe.

Place Setting with Recipe

This demo actually offered guests something a little different — a sweet treat that’s both delicious and healthy. Join us as we head into Festival Center to check out Chef Warren Brown on the Chef’s Showcase stage!

Culinary Demo: CakeLove Healthy Cake Bites by Warren Brown

For this particular culinary demonstration, we found ourselves once again seated alllllll the way to the left of the stage. No worries, though. LCD monitors located throughout the space gave us up close views of all the action.

Stage and Setup

The usual cast of characters were assembled. 🙂 If you’ve ever attended a culinary demonstration or a special event that takes place on the Chef’s Showcase stage, then you’ll recognize Pam Smith, who often joins chefs and wine experts as the host of events here.

Pam Smith and Chef Warren Brown

I was excited to take in a demo by Warren Brown. Many of you probably remember Brown from his Food Network show, Sugar Rush. But he also founded and operated CakeLove, a Washington DC-based bakery that soared to popularity in the last several years.

These days, Brown has taken his love of pastry online. While CakeLove’s brick-and-mortar bakeries have all closed, he’s building a business of CakeLove in a Jar, single servings of cake and frosting in resealable jars, available at grocers and online.

Chef Warren Brown

We’ll get a look at a sample size version of the treat in just a sec.

As is usually the case, our demo started off with a beverage pairing. We were treated to a glass of Zonin Prosecco to go with the cake that Brown would be demonstrating. This is an easy drinking, crisp sparkling wine that I find pairs exceptionally well with desserts. It’s a party in a glass. 🙂

Zonin Prosecco

While Chef Brown shared with us the recipe he had brought, we were treated to samples of both his Healthy Bites as well as a sample size of the CakeLove in a Jar.

CakeLove in a Jar and Healthy Bites

The Healthy Bites were shaped like miniature scones and offered a delicious array of flavors from the inclusion of dried cranberries and pineapple as well as seeds and spices. Healthy never tasted so yum!

Healthy Bites — Up Close

The CakeLove in a Jar was equally delicious — although not as healthy. 😀

While CakeLove in a Jar comes in some truly tempting flavors, like Red Velvet and Salted Caramel, we sampled a combo of Cinnamon Spice Cake paired with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting. Chef Brown shared that the combo included just a little caramel and rum to bring some complexity of flavors to the mix.

Sample of CakeLove in a Jar

Look for CakeLove in a Jar throughout the Washington, DC area as well as surrounding states. And you just might enjoy them on international flights with Virgin Atlantic and Norwegian Airlines, too!

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Are you looking forward to attending a culinary demonstration at this year’s Epcot Food and Wine Festival? Leave a comment and let us know!