by Eric Bowman
Last updated: 8:00 PM ET, Mon October 23, 2017
Food can oftentimes be the sole reason a person travels to a new place. Sampling tasty treats in a foreign land creates some lifelong memories.
However, not everyone has the budget to fly around the world on a whim just to meet the desires of their taste buds.
Thankfully, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida is here to help with the International Food & Wine Festival at Epcot. Travelers can feast on dishes from over 35 different countries.
Time is running out, however, as the event ends on November 13. It is certainly one you don't want to miss.
Disney decided to expand things in 2017 and add even more countries for tourists and locals to enjoy. They settled on 35 nations to honor the 35th anniversary of Epcot.
Menus vary from country to country, but the focal point is all about giving visitors a sample of authentic food. Disney wants to immerse their guests in a different country at Epcot, and food is an excellent way to achieve this.
Each country features a couple of main dishes as well as a dessert and an alcoholic beverage. Wine is, of course, the featured drink of choice at most places, but beer lovers have plenty of options as well. There's a craft beer spot and beer is (naturally) a centerpiece in the Germany section of the park.
Whether you prefer something savory or sweet, the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival has you covered. According to Disney, some of the fan favorites include:
-At Hawaii: Teriyaki-glazed SPAM Hash with potatoes, peppers and onions and a spicy mayonnaise
-At Spain: Charcuterie in a cone (and also the olive oil cake with lemon curd)
-At Africa: Spicy Ethiopian red lentil stew with vegan yogurt and quinoa (a vegan dish)
-At Active Eats: Sweet avocado crema with strawberries, yellow cake and tortilla streusel
-At The Cheese Studio: Braised beef "stroganoff" with tiny egg noodles, wild mushroom, and boursin garlic and fine herbs cheese sauce
-At Coastal Eats: Seared scallops with roasted corn and butterbean succotash and chili-chipotle cutter sauce
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Personally, I loved the Teriyaki-glazed SPAM Hash the most, and Cast Members at Disney informed us won't find a better dessert than the Sweet Avocado Crema. A healthy spin on a dessert that tastes phenomenal? Count me in forever and always.
Health food enthusiasts will love the Active Eats, Earth Eats and Farm Fresh vendors. Those looking for something new should try the exotic foods in Africa, Brazil, Morocco, Australia and New Zealand.
Other popular spots around the park included Italy, Mexico, Greece and Canada. In fact, Canada had the biggest line right at peak lunch hours during my visit. People were craving the cheddar cheese soup and the wild mushroom beef filet mignon.
Your stomach may not be able to handle eating at all 35 countries, so study up the dishes beforehand to maximize your visit.
However, it's also fun to just walk around the park and let your nose guide you to something delightful. The aromas that fill the air will stick with you for quite some time.
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