Enjoy good food, fine wine Disney style
International festival begins Friday at Epcot
BY BREUSE HICKMAN
FLORIDA TODAY
The annual pilgrimage to the culinary paradise that is the
Epcot International Food and Wine Festival doesn't officially begin once you walk through the Epcot gates.
No, folks must walk and walk, then walk some more until they get to the countries area, all the while careful not to succumb to the smells from the fish and chips standby.
Here's why that's a good thing.
Once you enter the festival, you'll find about 25 market places offering food from Turkey to Chile to Scandinavia.
You'll feel less guilt free sucking in the gastronomical greatness knowing you've had a bit of a workout before allowing your appetite to roam free.
And so it is with the 12th annual foray into food and wine bliss, which takes place Friday through Nov. 11
While Epcot is the only theme park where you can eat -- and drink -- around the "world" year round, the festival gives casual theme park visitors a chance to sample foods at cheaper prices. Sampler plates cost between $1 to $4.50.
Based on past experience, just a few dishes can seem to make up an entire meal.
Once again, Epcot Executive Chef Christine Weissman oversees the eating part of the festival. In addition to living, eating and cooking in five other countries she also was a chef Windows on the World, Cellar in the Sky, the fine-dining restaurant at the World Trade Center.
She says gearing up for the International Food and Wine Festival is a year-round process.
"We want to make sure we are staying authentic," says Weissman who has lived in five countries. "So we work not only with our talented team but with sponsors and natives from each region."
Return visitors can expect plenty of new tasty finds.
This year, new kiosks offer food from the Dominican Republic, Peru and Oklahoma.
Yes, Oklahoma. In celebration of the state's centennial, the festival will offer a unique showcase of American Indian cooking and culture.
For fine wine lovers, it offers locals a chance to sample wines, say from India and China, says wine and beverage manager Jason Cha-Kim.
Several kinds of wines will be available to sample at each kiosk.
Festival headquarters have moved to a larger location, the now-defunct Wonders of Life pavilion.
Here's where you can see ready-to-buy versions of most everything you've sampled around the park as well as specialty bottles of wines. Anyone up for a bottle of Marilyn Merlot?
Daily wine and beer seminars are included in park admission.
As if the food isn't visual enough, the festival has added an art exhibit around the park that includes food-related paintings from artists in China, Italy, France and elsewhere.
But beer can be mighty fine at the festival, too. But go easy there, bro. Some of the selections have as much as 25 percent alcohol.
With so many ways to give your taste buds a workout, Weissman said the real challenge is making everything come together -- like one dish.
There are many ingredients and dishes that can overlap between the countries, Weissman says. So, it's especially important to her that each kiosk and special event be unique.
"For me the excitement is working with so many chefs with great ideas," she said. "And knowing that everyone needs to be in sync."
Also returning is the popular "Eat to the Beat" concert series which offers a smorgasbord of entertainers including The Beach Boys, Jon Secada, Little Richard, Sheena Easton, David Cassidy, The Village People and Chubby Checker & the Wildcats, among others.
Those who find room -- and extra cash -- to take in extra curricular activities have plenty to choose from including the weekly food and wine orgy, er . . .grand tasting known as "Party for the Senses." It again will offer performances by Cirque de Soleil.
The weather forcast has changed about 10 times for the weekend of the 6th. Right now it's saying rain again. Hopefully as we get closer it will change back to sunny skies!
I know!!! I have to stop looking at the Hurricane Center site, too! 
LSU game is on at 8:30 that night, so at least we should be able to see the 2nd half! 
I'm going with a black cotton sundress and some comfortable flat black sandals. We really want to go over to MK right after Illuminations and don't want to be bothered with too much to carry or having to stop at the CR to change. I haven't started packing yet, but i've started a small pile in my closet!
