What does The Land Pavilion in Epcot’s Future World share with the Food and Wine Festival?

You’re about to find out if you join me on a little FIELD TRIP on Living with the Land!

“For your safety, remain seated with your hands, arms, feet and legs inside the boat at all times.”

“Thank you. Now sit back, relax, and enjoy Living with the Land…” 

… and its special Food and Wine Festival presentation, the Roots of the Ingredient!

I KNOW it’s hard to take a break from eating ALL THE FOOD during the Festival, especially in its few remaining days. And even outside of Food and Wine season a lot of people pass right on over Living with the Land in the Pavilion and head straight to Soarin’ Around the World. But not this kid! Though the attraction may not be the exact same Listen to the Land that it was for all of us 80s peeps, it still takes me right back to my very first trip to EPCOT Center. How about you?

Anyway, if you do happen to find some time between bites to ride Living with the Land, you’ll find that the ingredients that make up some of your favorite Festival items are pointed out with signs throughout The Land’s Living Laboratory.

You’ll get to see what these ingredients look like long before they become part of your dish.

For instance, here are the tippy tops of pineapples… one of the ingredients topping the Kalua Pork Slider at the Hawai’i Booth.

And here’s a bit of lemongrass that makes up part of the Lump Crab Cake with Napa Cabbage Slaw and Avocado Lemongrass Cream at the new Coastal Eats Booth.

By the way, my apologies if some of these pics are a little blurry. Living with the Land seems like the slowest ride on earth EVER… until you’re scrambling to take pictures on either side. Then suddenly it feels like Expedition Everest.

At any rate, above is an olive tree which will eventually yield olives like the ones in the Charcuterie in a Cone found at the Spain Booth.

Cacao trees will produce the beans that in turn create chocolate.

Of course, you can enjoy that in the Liquid Nitro Chocolate-Almond Truffle with Warm Whiskey-Caramel at The Chocolate Studio.

And these beautiful trees produce bananas that may one day be included in something like the Banana Almond Sundae at The Almond Orchard.

Let’s all take a break to wave “Hello!” to Mickey!!

And “Hey!” to some of the tomatoes representing the Korma Chicken with Cucumber Tomato Salad at the India Booth.

These small pots house chives and celery.

Chives top the Beer-braised Beef in Belgium with bits of celery in the stew.

Floating along, we pass the corn.

Corn is part of the Griddled Cornbread that’s served with the Crispy Chicken at Farm Fresh.

It’s always fun to see the some of the lettuce that becomes part of your delicious (I mean it! It’s the best.) Farmer’s Salad at the Garden Grill located right upstairs in The Land Pavilion.

A better photographer would’ve caught the entire 35 “written” out in the colored leaves in honor of Epcot’s 35th Anniversary this year. I was thisclose 😉 !

The cucumbers above represent an ingredient for the Grilled Tuna Tataki with Pickled Cucumbers at Hawai’i.

Two key ingredients — beets and green beans — are displayed representing the Roasted Beet Salad with Green Beans at Farm Fresh.

And here’s the Arugula, which you’ll find oodles of on top of the (surprisingly HUGE) Caramelized Onion Boursin Garlic and Fine Herbs Cheese Tart at The Cheese Studio.

And here’s some more celery to represent its use in the Cheddar Cheese Soup at Canada.

Which is awesome, because now you can claim you’re eating a bowl of cheese and bacon for all the healthy celery involved.

Next, a little Grape & Dill for some of the tastes in the Taste of Greece Stuffed Grape Leaves from the Greece Booth.

Mint and spinach are both crucial flavors in the Spinach and Paneer Cheese Pocket with Mint Raita at the Africa Booth.

I’m wondering if the Rosemary & Thyme for the Lamb Meatball at the New Zealand Booth put the song “Scarborough Fair” in your head, too?

Unless, of course, there is another song from back in the day already spinning in there. C’mon, you might as well sing it with me before we sign off 🙂 …

“Let’s listen to the land we all love, nature’s plan will shine above! Listen to the LAAAA—AAA—AAA-AAND! Listen to the land!”

That song still pops in my head every time I set foot on this ride. You, too? Anyway, I hope you had a bit of fun on this trip through Living with the Land with me today! And now…

“Please keep your hands and feet inside the boat, and remain seated until the ride comes to a complete stop.”

Is your favorite Food and Wine Festival dish represented in Living With the Land? Please let us know with a comment!