As the 2021 EPCOT International Flower & Garden Festival draws to a close, it’s time to get prepped for the Food and Wine Festival!
It’s kicking off this year in July (just like last year!) and we can’t wait to get back in the groove of what is arguably the biggest EPCOT event of the year. There are going to be several activities, some amazing entertainment, and SO MUCH food. But, if you’re hoping to come back and eat some of the things you loved last year, you should know that there are 8 2020 booths that aren’t returning to this year’s festival!
Africa
Last year, the Africa booth at the Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival served up some flavorful eats with options like the Spicy Kenyan Vegan Corn and White Beans and Piri Piri Skewered Shrimp.
While the Africa booth won’t be returning this year, we’ll be getting the new Kenya global marketplace instead. Disney has said that the Kenya booth will serve “traditional Kenyan food and beer,” which is pretty vague, but still sounds exciting!
Citrus Blossom
No lie. We’re not really sorry to see Citrus Blossom go — it was the festival booth that just wouldn’t die! It premiered at the 2019 Flower and Garden Festival, then came to last year’s Food and Wine festival to add a little more spring flair. (Since last year’s Food and Wine Festival started out as a combination of the two festivals.)
But, it ended up sticking around for 5 festivals in a row! (From Flower & Garden 2020 through Flower & Garden 2021!) It was fun while it lasted, but we’ll be happy to keep Citrus Blossom at Flower and Garden Festival where it belongs.
Desserts and Champagne
Do you remember those incredibly popular Liquid Nitro Cake Pops at last year’s festival? You could find them at the Desserts and Champagne booth in World Showplace, but sadly, that spot won’t be returning this year.
Besides the cake pops, all the booth served was a frozen s’mores drink and a few different champagne selections. We’re not sure if these pops will return to a different booth this year, but we’re excited to try out the new options in World Showplace next month!
Islands of the Caribbean
Last year’s Islands of the Caribbean booth served up Ropa Vieja Empanadas, Jerk-Spiced Chicken, and Flancocho. During the festival, the booth ended up being unexpectedly closed several times throughout the festival.
We later found out that Disney was only opening Islands of the Caribbean during the festival’s busiest days.
Mac and Cheese
Talk about comfort food to the MAX — last year’s Mac and Cheese, Hosted by Boursin Cheese booth was definitely a fan-favorite. So why isn’t it coming back this year? Well, it kind of is, kind of isn’t.
This year, the booth replacing this one is called Mac & Eats and will not be hosted by Boursin. According to Disney, here you’ll be able to “Discover macaroni-and-cheese combos your mom never imagined!” It sounds pretty interesting…maybe we’ll get some truly unusual pasta options on this menu!
Morocco
While the traditional Morocco booth won’t be at the 2021 Food and Wine Festival, the Morocco Pavilion won’t be left without! This year, you’ll find Tangierine Cafe, Flavors of the Medina instead.
Oddly enough, Tangierine Cafe is the name of the quick service restaurant in the pavilion that has been closed for many months now. We’re interested to see if this booth includes any menu items from that restaurant or even if it’s located inside the restaurant itself, so stay tuned to DFB for the details!
Waffles
Last year’s Waffles booth was a late addition to the festival, and the menu was filled with (you guessed it) a variety of fancy waffle options.
While there won’t be a booth dedicated to waffles in 2021, you will be able to pick some up at the Belgium global marketplace that opens on October 1st. There, you can get a fluffy Belgian waffle or a beer-braised beef dish — something for every taste!
Wine and Dine Featuring Festival Favorites
And last on our list of booths that aren’t returning is Wine and Dine Featuring Festival Favorites. It seemed like this booth was brought to last year’s festival since it was kinda a combo festival. It served a few different options from booths that didn’t make the cut.
But since this year’s event seems to be going back to full-scale in terms of food choices, it looks like we won’t be seeing this booth. In its place, we’ll be getting some of our old favorites back, so we can’t complain!
Those are all the booths that won’t be returning to this year’s festival. Stay tuned to DFB for the latest Food & Wine Festival coverage, leading up to and during the event!
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Will you be attending this year’s festival? Let us know in the comments!
Chammers says
Just so long as there is a booth that will be serving the champagne selections that were at Desserts and Champagne , I can deal with the change.