Patagonia Marketplace will Debut at the 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival

The flavors of Argentina and Chile will tickle your palate at the new Patagonia Marketplace, which will serve food from Argentina and Chile, when the 19th Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, opens Sept. 19 at Disney World. The 2014 festival starts a week early and goes on for a whopping 53 days, ending Nov. 10.

This year Disney chefs will serve up new Farm Fresh Marketplace offerings and debut new menu items at multiple marketplaces. A dinner showcasing Walt Disney’s culinary predilections, a foodie “Boot Camp Series” and a Friday morning celebrity chef nosh-and-chat cookbook event, “Food for Thought,” will debut.

Festival guests will be able to pair wines and beers with different dishes from more than 25 ethnic and specialty marketplaces as they walk along the World Showcase Promenade.  Champagne, cocktails and “mocktails” also will be on festival menus.  The iconic Ocean Spray Cranberry Bog returns for a fourth year.

But wait there is more….

The 2014 Festival Event Menu:

New marketplace debuts; favorites return – Flavors of Argentina and Chile will merge at the new Patagonia Marketplace, where sustainable salmon with a kick debuts.  At the Farm Fresh Marketplace, which replaces Florida Local Marketplace, guests can taste farm-fresh local flavors of a new “Bacon and Eggs” dish featuring applewood-smoked, pepper-coated bacon, sweet corn, potatoes, Hollandaise and pickled jalapeños. The Brazil Marketplace puts the lime in the coconut with Mocequa de Pescado, a fresh tilapia dish featuring coconut lime sauce and steamed rice.

New Eat to the Beat acts debut; fan favorites return to festival stage – Opening night through Sept. 21, new festival act Jo Dee Messina will rock the house at America Gardens Theatre.  Other new beats on tap include Rick Springfield (Sept. 24-25); Fuel (Oct. 9-10); Jim Brickman (Oct. 23-24); Los Lonely Boys (Oct. 25-26); and David Cook (Nov. 6-7). The Pointer Sisters (Sept. 22-23), Christopher Cross (Sept. 26-27) and other fan favorites will return to play the festival stage.  Big Bad Voodoo Daddy (Nov. 8-10) will close the event.

Celebrity chefs cook and dish – Renowned chefs such as Warren Brown, Rock Harper, Jennifer Hill Booker, Erika Davis, Paula DaSilva, Gale Gand, Dana Herbert, Jamie Deen, Jerome Brown, Dean Max, “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, Allen Susser, Duskie Estes and John Stewart will share their talents during culinary demos and premium events.

Don’t forget about the Festival Welcome Center. There is always a lot of complimentary demonstrations going on there.

Other festival highlights include:

• More than 270 chefs including Disney chefs and culinary stars from across the country.

• Party for the Senses grand tasting events Saturday evenings showcasing tempting bites from eminent chefs, more than 50 wines and beers and live entertainment.

• Premium events including the back-by-demand “Parisian Breakfast” on Saturdays; new “Sunday Mornings with…” plated brunch starring an acclaimed pastry chef or baker crafting three favorite desserts for sampling; and new “Boot Camp Series” interactive experience with epicurean challenges to hone your “inner chef.”

Back to Basics series, special book signings, Eat to the Beat concerts, cultural adventures, Marketplace Discovery Passport and all attractions and park entertainment are included with regular Epcot admission.

Festival closes at 10 p.m. each weekend.

The Party for the Senses grand tasting events, signature dinners and other special wine and culinary programs require reservations and separate event admission.

To book a reservation call 407/WDW-FEST (939-3378).  Information and reservations for some programs will be at epcotfoodfestival.com.

Sounds yummy!

Wishing you Faith, Trust, and Pixie Dust

Sunshine